Display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal panel (display panel) 11 includes a display area AA configured to display images, a non-display area NAA outside the display area AA, a light blocking layer (a light blocking portion) 11i disposed at least in the non-display area NAA and configured to block light, a signal line connection line (a narrow line portion) 29 where lines are arranged at intervals in the non-display area NAA, and a common electrode connection line portion (a wide line portion) 30 disposed in the non-display area and having a line width greater than that of the signal line connection line 29 and including empty portions 34.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device.

BACKGROUND ART

A known liquid crystal panel that is a main component of a liquidcrystal display device has the following configuration. The liquidcrystal panel includes liquid crystals held between a pair oftransparent boards. A sealing member is formed around the liquidcrystals to seal the liquid crystals. One of the boards includes TFTsthat are switching components, pixel electrodes, and traces. The otherboard includes color filters, common electrodes, and black matrix. Sucha liquid crystal panel having the configuration is supplied with lightfrom a backlight unit arranged on a rear surface side of the liquidcrystal panel so that images appear on the liquid crystal panel. Noblack matrix is formed around the sealing member on the liquid crystalpanel and therefore, light from the backlight unit may leak therefrom. Atechnology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is proposed to solve such aproblem. In Patent Document 1, no black matrix is formed near thesealing member and a light blocking layer made of a metal layer isformed near the sealing member on a liquid crystal side surface of oneof the transparent boards. The light blocking layer blocks light nearthe sealing member so that light from the backlight unit may not leakfrom the portion near the sealing member.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2000-338474

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

In Patent Document 1, the light blocking layer that is a metal layer isarranged to block light and therefore, the light blocking layer maygenerate parasitic capacitance with respect to other traces. To obviatesuch a problem, the black matrix may extend near the sealing memberinstead of forming the metal light blocking layer so as to ensure lightblocking property near the sealing member. In such a configuration,following problems may be caused. The black matrix improves its lightblocking property as it increases a thickness thereof. However, flatnessof the panel may be deteriorated or a gap error may be caused as theblack matrix increases the thickness. The black matrix improves itslight blocking property as a density of a light blocking materialcontained therein increases. However, if the black matrix that containsa photosensitive resin material is patterned with a photolithographictechnique and the density of the photosensitive material excessivelyincreases, sensitivity of the photosensitive resin material is loweredand it may be difficult to form the black matrix. Due to such problems,the thickness of the black matrix or the density of the light blockingmaterial may not be ensured. Then, the light blocking property isdecreased and light may be likely to pass the black matrix so thattraces that are arranged to overlap the black matrix may be seen as ashadow by a user. This may deteriorate appearance of the panel.Especially, in a liquid crystal panel of a normally white mode wherelight transmissivity is highest when no voltage is applied to the liquidcrystals, no pixel electrode is arranged near the sealing member and thelight transmissivity of the liquid crystals is always highest.Therefore, light is likely to leak near the sealing member and theabove-described shadow is seen and the appearance of the panel may bedeteriorated.

Further, the traces that overlap the black matrix may include signalline connection traces that are connected to signal lines and commonelectrode connection traces that are connected to a common electrode. Insuch a configuration, the signal line connection traces are arranged atintervals and the common electrode connection traces are arranged with asolid pattern. Accordingly, a part of rays of light passing through theblack matrix passes through the signal line connection traces and therays of light passing through the black matrix are less likely to passthrough the common electrode connection traces. Therefore, the commonelectrode connection traces are likely to be seen as a shadow and anappearance of the panel may be degraded.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention was made in view of the foregoing circumstances.An object of the present invention is to improve an appearance.

Means for Solving the Problem

A display device according to the present invention includes a displayarea where images are displayed, a non-display area that is outside thedisplay area, a light blocking portion disposed in at least thenon-display area and configured to block light, a narrow line portiondisposed in the non-display area and including narrow lines that arearranged at intervals, and a wide line portion disposed in thenon-display area and having a width greater than that of the narrow lineportion and including empty portions.

According to such a configuration, the light blocking portion forblocking light is disposed in the non-display area that is outside thedisplay area where images appear. Therefore, the narrow line portion andthe wide line portion are less likely to be seen by a user of thedisplay device. If the light blocking property of the light blockingportion is insufficient and light transmits through the light blockingportion, the light transmits through portions between the adjacentnarrow lines that are arranged at intervals. In such a configuration, ifthe wide line portion has no empty portions and is formed in a solidpattern, the light is less likely to pass through the wide line portionand the amount of light passing through the wide line portion and thatof light passing through the narrow line portion greatly differ fromeach other. As a result, the wide line portion is likely to be seen as ashadow by the user of the display device and this may deteriorate theappearance of the display device. The wide line portion partiallyincludes empty portions and the light passes through the empty portionsof the wide line portion similarly to the narrow line portion.Accordingly, it is less likely to occur that the wide line portion isseen as a shadow by the user of the display device and the goodappearance of the display device is maintained. If the light blockingportion of a metal for blocking light is additionally arranged toprevent leakage of light, the metal light blocking portion may generateparasitic capacitance with the narrow line portion or the wide lineportion. However, the side line portion partially having the emptyportions may obviate occurrence of such a problem.

Preferable embodiments of a first display device of the presentinvention may include the following configurations.

(1) The side line portion may be configured such that a ratio of an areaof the empty portions to an area of the wide line portion issubstantially equal to a ratio of an area of the empty parts to an areaof the narrow line portion. According to such a configuration, theamount of light that is blocked by the wide line portion is equal to theamount of light that is blocked by the narrow line portion, and theamount of light passing through the empty portions of the wide lineportion is equal to the amount of light passing through the empty partsbetween the adjacent narrow lines. Therefore, the wide line portion andthe narrow line portion are seen by the user of the display device withsimilar brightness and this effectively improves the appearance of thedisplay device.

(2) The wide line portion may include divided lines that are defined bythe empty portions and are arranged at intervals. According to such aconfiguration, the divided lines included in the wide line portion aredefined by the empty portions and are arranged parallel to each other atintervals similarly to the narrow line portion. Accordingly, the wideline portion and the narrow line portion are seen by the user of thedisplay device with similar brightness and the appearance is improved.

(3) In the wide line portion, each of the divided lines may have a linewidth that is equal to that of each of the narrow lines and adjacentdivided lines have an interval therebetween that is equal to an intervalbetween adjacent narrow lines. According to such a configuration, theamount of light that is blocked by the divided lines included in thewide line portion is equal to the amount of light that is blocked by thenarrow line portion, and the amount of light passing through the emptyportions between the adjacent divided lines is equal to the amount oflight passing through the empty portions between the adjacent narrowlines. Accordingly, the wide line portion and the narrow line portionare seen by the user of the display device with similar brightness andthe appearance is improved.

(4) The wide line portion may further include short-circuit portionsconfigured to short-circuit adjacent divided lines. According to such aconfiguration, the adjacent divided lines are short-circuited by theshort-circuit portion. Therefore, even if any one of the divided linesis disconnected, the divided line having the disconnection iselectrically connected to the adjacent divided lines via theshort-circuit portions. Further, line resistance of the wide lineportion is reduced.

(5) The display device may further include boards each including thedisplay area and the non-display area, a liquid crystal layer sandwichedbetween the boards, alignment films disposed on plate surfaces of therespective boards opposite the liquid crystal layer, disposed over thedisplay area and the non-display area, and configured to orient liquidcrystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer. The narrow lineportion may include a portion that overlaps the alignment films in aplan view, and the wide line portion may include an alignment filmoverlap portion overlapping the alignment films and an alignment filmnon-overlap portion that does not overlap the alignment films, and theempty portions may be formed at least in the alignment non-overlapportion. According to such a configuration, a pair of alignment films isformed on respective plate surfaces of a pair of boards opposite theliquid crystal layer so that the liquid crystal molecules in the liquidcrystal layer are oriented appropriately. The amount of light passingthrough the liquid crystal layer is controlled by a voltage applied tothe liquid crystal layer. The pair of alignment films is disposed toextend over the display area and the non-display area. Therefore, evenif positions of the alignment films are displaced from the correctpositions during the manufacturing process, the alignment films arepossibly disposed in the display area. A part of rays of light passingthrough the liquid crystal layer including the liquid crystal moleculesoriented by the alignment films passes through portions between thenarrow lines at least a part of which overlaps the alignment films in aplan view. The wide line portion includes the alignment film overlapportion overlapping the alignment films n a plan view and the alignmentfilm non-overlap portion that does not overlap the alignment films in aplan view. The alignment film overlap portion includes the emptyportions and therefore, a part of rays of light passing through theliquid crystal layer oriented by the alignment films passes through theempty portions formed in the alignment film overlap portion.Accordingly, the wide line portion is less likely to be seen as a shadowby the user and the good appearance of the display device is maintained.

(6) The display device may further include a sealing member disposedbetween the boards to surround and seal the liquid crystal layer. Thesealing member may be made of thermosetting resin. The alignment filmnon-overlap portion may include a sealing member overlap portionoverlapping the sealing member in a plan view and a sealing membernon-overlap portion that does not overlap the sealing member in a planview, and the sealing member overlap portion may include sealing emptyportions through which light passes to cure the sealing member.According to such a configuration, the liquid crystal layer sandwichedbetween the boards is disposed between the boards and enclosed by thesealing member that surrounds the liquid crystal layer. The sealingmember made of photo curing resin is cured by irradiation of lightduring the manufacturing process. The alignment film non-overlap portionincludes the sealing member overlap portion overlapping the sealingmember in a plan view and the sealing member non-overlap portion thatdoes not overlap the sealing member in a plan view. The sealing memberoverlap portion selectively includes the sealing member empty portionsso that light for curing the sealing member passes through the sealingmember empty portions of the sealing member overlap portion and isdirected to the sealing member during the manufacturing process. Even ifthe alignment film non-overlap portion includes the sealing memberoverlap portion, the sealing member is effectively cured. The sealingmember non-overlap portion of the alignment film non-overlap portiondoes not include the sealing member empty portions. This is preferablefor keeping an area of the wide line portion and decreasing lineresistance in the wide line portion.

(7) The narrow line portion, the wide line portion, and at least pixelelectrodes may be disposed on a plate surface of one of the boardsopposite the liquid crystal layer. The light blocking portion and acommon electrode that is opposite at least the pixel electrode may bedisposed on a plate surface of another one of the boards opposite theliquid crystal layer. The sealing member non-overlap portion may beelectrically connected to the common electrode in the wide line portion.According to such a configuration, potential difference is generatedbetween the pixel electrodes disposed on the liquid crystal layer sideplate surface of the one board and the common electrode disposed on theliquid crystal layer side plate surface of the other board so that theamount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer is controlledby controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in theliquid crystal layer. In the wide line portion, no empty portion isformed in the sealing member non-overlap portion that does not overlapthe sealing member. This ensures high reliability in the electricalconnection with the common electrode.

(8) The display device may further include signal processors arranged atintervals and configured to process input signals supplied from anexternal signal supplier and generate output signals and output theoutput signals to the display area. The narrow line portion may extendover the signal processors and the display area to transmit the outputsignals to the display area and routed to spread from the respectivesignal processors toward the display area so as to have a shape of fan.The wide line portion may be sandwiched between the narrow lines thatare routed from the respective signal processors that are adjacent toeach other. According to such a configuration, the output signalsgenerated by the signal processors are transmitted to the display areavia the narrow line portion extending and spreading from the respectivesignal processors, which are arranged at intervals, to the display areain a fan-shape. In the configuration that the wide line portion isdisposed between the two adjacent groups of the narrow lines extendingfrom the respective adjacent two signal processors, if the amount oflight passing through the narrow line portion differs from the amount oflight passing through the wide line portion, the appearance of thedisplay device may be deteriorated. However, the wide line portionincludes the empty portions in this embodiment so that the differencebetween the amount of light passing through the narrow line portion andthe amount of light passing through the wide line portion is reduced.Accordingly, the appearance of the display device is improved.

(9) The display device may further include boards each including thedisplay area and the non-display area, a liquid crystal layer sandwichedbetween the boards, and alignment films disposed on plate surfaces ofthe respective boards opposite the liquid crystal layer, disposed overthe display area and the non-display area, and configured to orientliquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer. One ofthe boards may include a liquid crystals non-orientation portion thatoverlaps the narrow line portion and the wide line portion in thenon-display area in a plan view and the liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer are not oriented. According to sucha configuration, even if light passes through the light blockingportion, portions between the adjacent narrow lines, and the emptyportions of the wide line portion, the liquid crystal molecules are notoriented due to the liquid crystals non-orientation portion. Thus, thelight is less likely to pass therethrough and the light leakage is lesslikely to be caused and the good appearance of the display device iseffectively maintained.

(10) The display device may further include check lines that aredisposed in the non-display area and connected to the narrow lineportion to check the narrow line portion. The wide line potion mayinclude the check lines and the check lines may include the emptyportions. According to such a configuration, the empty portions areformed between the check lines included in the wide line portion, andlight passes through the empty portions similarly to the narrow lineportion. Accordingly, the check lines are less likely to be seen by auser and good appearance of the display device is maintained.

(11) The display device may further include boards each including thedisplay area and the non-display area, a liquid crystal layer sandwichedbetween the boards, and alignment films disposed on plate surfaces ofthe respective boards opposite the liquid crystal layer, disposed atleast in the display area, and configured to orient liquid crystalmolecules included in the liquid crystal layer. The display device is anormally white mode where light transmissivity is highest when novoltage is applied between the boards. In the display device that is anormally white mode panel, the light transmittance is highest when novoltage is applied between the boards. Therefore, the outer appearancemay be deteriorated due to the leakage of light. However, even if thelight passing through the empty portions included in the wide lineportion leaks therefrom, the wide line portion is less likely to be seenby the user as a shadow and the appearance is less likely to bedeteriorated.

A second display device according to the present invention includesboards each including a display area where images are displayed and anon-display area that is outside the display area, a liquid crystallayer sandwiched between the boards, liquid crystals orientationportions disposed in the display area of plate surfaces of the boardsopposite the liquid crystal layer and configured to orient liquidcrystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, a light blocking portiondisposed at least in the non-display area of one of the boards, linesarranged at intervals in the non-display area of one of the boards, anda liquid crystals non-orientation portion that overlaps at least thelines in a plan view in the non-display area of one of the boards anddoes not orient the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer.

According to such a configuration, a pair of the liquid crystalsorientation portions is disposed in the display area of the platesurfaces of the boards opposite the liquid crystal layer. Therefore,liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are appropriatelyoriented and the amount of light passing through the liquid crystallayer is controlled by adjusting the voltage applied to the liquidcrystal layer. The light blocking portion is disposed in the non-displayarea of one of the boards. The non-display area is outside the displayarea where images appear. Thus, the lined disposed in the non-displayarea are less likely to be seen by the user of the display device.

If the light blocking portion has an insufficient light blockingproperty and the light passes through the light blocking portion, thelight passes through portions between the adjacent lines that aredisposed at intervals and the light leaks therefrom. The lines are seenas a shadow by the user of the display device and the appearance of thedisplay device may be deteriorated. If a light blocking portion made ofmetal for blocking light to prevent leakage of light, the light blockingportion may generate parasitic capacitance with the lines. The liquidcrystals non-orientation portion is disposed to overlap at least thelines in a plan view in the non-display area of one of the boards. Theliquid crystals non-orientation portion is not subjected to theorientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer.Therefore, even if light passes through the portions between theadjacent lines, the liquid crystal molecules are not oriented via theliquid crystals non-orientation portion and the light is less likely topass therethrough. Accordingly, the leakage of light is less likely tooccur and the lines are less likely to be seen as the shadow and thegood appearance of the display device is maintained. Further, theadditional light blocking portion made of metal is not necessary to bearranged to prevent leakage of light. Therefore, the parasiticcapacitance is less likely to be generated between the metal lightblocking portion and the lines.

Preferable embodiments of a second display device of the presentinvention may include the following configurations.

(1) The display device may further include alignment films disposed onplate surfaces of the boards opposite the liquid crystal layer and in atleast the display area. The liquid crystals orientation portion maycorrespond to portions of the respective alignment films in the displayarea. One of the boards may include an alignment film non-arrangementarea on a plate surface thereof opposite the liquid crystal layer, andone of the alignment films may be disposed not to overlap the lines in aplan view in the alignment film non-arrangement area. The liquidcrystals non-orientation portion may correspond to the alignment filmnon-arrangement area. According to such a configuration, the liquidcrystals non-orientation portion corresponds to the alignment filmnon-arrangement area where no alignment film is disposed, and light isless likely to pass therethrough. The position of the areas where thealignment films are formed is precisely determined.

(2) The alignment films may extend over the display area and thenon-display area. The display device may further include a second lightblocking portion configured to block light and disposed in thenon-display area of one of the boards and overlapping the alignmentfilms in a plan view and disposed on a display area side with respect tothe lines. According to such a configuration, the pair of the alignmentfilms extends over the display area and the non-display area. Therefore,even if the arrangement position of the alignment films is displacedduring the manufacturing process, the alignment films are reliablyarranged in the display area. A part of each alignment film is disposedin the non-arrangement area, and light passing through the lightblocking portion may leak therefrom. The light is blocked by the secondlight blocking portion that overlaps in a plan view the portions of thealignment films in the non-display area and is arranged closer to thedisplay area side than the lines. Accordingly, the leakage of light isless likely to occur.

(3) The display device may further include alignment films disposed onplate surfaces of the boards opposite the liquid crystal layer and in atleast the display area. The alignment films may include portionsdisposed in the display area and the portions may correspond to anorientation processed portion that is subjected to orientationprocessing. One of the alignment films may include an orientationnon-processed portion in the non-display area, the orientationnon-processed portion overlapping at least the lines in a plan view, andthe orientation non-processed portion is not subjected to theorientation processing. The liquid crystals orientation portion maycorrespond to the orientation processed portion and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion may correspond to the orientation non-processedportion. According to such a configuration, the pair of alignment filmsextends over the display area and non-display area. Therefore, even ifthe positions of the alignment films are displaced during themanufacturing process, the alignment films are reliably disposed in thedisplay area. The liquid crystals orientation portion corresponds to therubbing processed portion that is a portion of the pair of alignmentfilms that are subjected to the orientation process, and the liquidcrystals non-orientation portion corresponds to the rubbingnon-processed portion that is a portion of one of the pair of alignmentfilms that is not subjected to the orientation process. In thisconfiguration, the accuracy of the forming area of the alignment filmsmay not be ensured. Even if the accuracy of the position of the formingarea of the alignment films is low, the liquid crystals non-orientationportion is reliably arranged and this reduces a cost.

(4) The alignment films may have a same formation area in a plan view ofthe boards, and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion may beincluded in each of the boards. According to such a configuration, sincethe liquid crystals non-arrangement portion is disposed on each of theboards, the light passing through portions between the adjacent lines isreliably prevented from leaking therefrom. Therefore, the lines arefurther less likely to be seen as the shadow and good appearance of thedisplay device is effectively maintained. Further, the alignment filmshave the same plan view forming areas on the boards. Therefore, thealignment film printing plate is commonly used for patterning thealignment films during the manufacturing process and a manufacturingcost is reduced.

(5) The display device may further include a wide line portion that isdisposed in the non-display area of one of the boards and has a linewidth greater than the lines and partially includes empty portions. Ifthe wide line portion has no empty portions and is formed in a solidpattern, the light is less likely to pass through the wide line portionand the amount of light passing through the wide line portion and thatof light passing through the lines greatly differ from each other. As aresult, the wide line portion is likely to be seen as a shadow by theuser of the display device and this may deteriorate the appearance ofthe display device. In this embodiment, the wide line portion partiallyincludes empty portions and the light passes through the empty portionsof the wide line portion similarly to the lines. Accordingly, it is lesslikely to occur that the wide line portion is seen as a shadow by theuser of the display device and the good appearance of the display deviceis maintained.

(6) The display device may further include boards each including thedisplay area and the non-display area, a liquid crystal layer sandwichedbetween the boards, and alignment films disposed on plate surfaces ofthe respective boards opposite the liquid crystal layer, disposed in atleast the display area, and configured to orient liquid crystalmolecules included in the liquid crystal layer. The display device is anormally white mode where light transmissivity is highest when novoltage is applied between the boards. According to such aconfiguration, in the display device that is in a normally white mode,the light transmittance is maximum when no voltage is applied betweenthe boards. Therefore, the appearance may be deteriorated due to theleakage of light. However, even if light leaks from the empty portionsof the wide line portion or the portions between the adjacent lines, thewide line portion or the lines are less likely to be seen as the shadowby the user, and the appearance is less likely to be deteriorated.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the appearance is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal panel with a drivermounted thereon, a flexible printed circuit board, and a control circuitboard according to a first embodiment of the present inventionillustrating connection thereamong.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal displaydevice illustrating a cross-sectional configuration along a long-sidedirection thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating across-sectional configuration of a display area of the liquid crystalpanel.

FIG. 4 is a magnified plan view illustrating a plan view configurationof a display area of an array board included in the liquid crystalpanel.

FIG. 5 is a magnified plan view illustrating a plan view configurationof the display area of a CF board included in the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of the array boardincluded in the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 7 is a magnified plan view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area ofthe liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a liquid crystal panel with a drivermounted thereon, a flexible printed circuit board, and a control circuitboard according to a second embodiment of the present inventionillustrating connection thereamong.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in the non-display area of the array boardincluded in the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of gate side drivers in the non-display area of the array boardincluded in the liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area ofthe liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area ofthe liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of gate side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area ofthe liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a short-side direction of the non-display area of aliquid crystal panel according to a tenth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to an eleventh embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to a twelfth embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to a thirteenth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a plan view illustrating a tracing configuration between apair of source side drivers in a non-display area of an array boardincluded in a liquid crystal panel according to a fourteenth embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectionalconfiguration along a long-side direction of a liquid crystal panelaccording to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<First Embodiment>

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 8. A liquid crystal display device 10 will bedescribed as an example. X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis may bepresent in the drawings. The axes in each drawing correspond to therespective axes in other drawings. The vertical direction is definedbased on FIG. 2. An upper side and a lower side in FIG. 2 correspond toa front side and the back side, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystal display device 10includes a liquid crystal panel (a display panel, a display device) 11,a driver (a signal processor, drive circuit) 21, a control circuit board(an external signal source) 12, a flexible printed circuit board (anexternal connecting component) 13, and a backlight unit (a lightingdevice) 14. The liquid crystal panel 11 includes a display area AA and anon-display area NAA around the display area AA. The display area AA isan inner area configured to display images. The driver 21 is configuredto drive the liquid crystal panel 11. The control circuit board 12 isconfigured to supply various input signals (input signals relatingdriving power, reference electric potential, and images, for example)from the outside to the driver 21. The flexible printed circuit board 13electrically connects the liquid crystal panel 11 to the externalcontrol circuit board 12. The backlight unit 14 is an external lightsource configured to supply light to the liquid crystal panel 11. Theliquid crystal display device 10 further includes a touch panel 15 and acasing (a casing, an exterior member) 16. A user inputs positioninformation in the display area AA of the liquid crystal panel 11 viathe touch panel 15. The liquid crystal panel 11, the backlight unit 14,and the touch panel 15 are arranged in the casing 16. The liquid crystaldisplay device 10 according to this embodiment may be used in variouskinds of electronic devices (not illustrated) such as in-vehicleterminals (car-mounted navigation system, mobile (movable, portable) carnavigation system). The liquid crystal panel 11 in the liquid crystaldisplay device 10 has a screen size of about seven inches. Namely, theliquid crystal panel 11 is in a size that is classified as a small or asmall-to-medium.

A general configuration of the liquid crystal panel 11 will bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel 11 has ahorizontally-long rectangular overall shape (a rectangular shape). Theliquid crystal panel 11 includes the display area (an active area) AAthat is off centered toward one of ends of a short dimension thereof(the upper side in FIG. 1) and toward one of ends of a long dimensionthereof (the left side in FIG. 1). The driver 21 and the flexibleprinted circuit board 13 are mounted to a portion of the liquid crystalpanel 11 closer to the other end of the long dimension and the shortdimension of the liquid crystal panel 11 (the lower side and the rightside in FIG. 1), respectively. In FIG. 1, a frame shape of adot-and-dashed line that is slightly smaller than the CF board 11 arepresents an outer line of the display area AA and an area outside thedot-and-dashed line is a non-display area NAA. An area of the liquidcrystal panel 11 outside the display area AA is the non-display area (anon-active area) NAA in which images are not displayed. The non-displayarea NAA includes a frame-shaped area around the display area AA thatincludes a mounting area (an attachment area) to which the driver 21 andthe flexible printed circuit board 13 are mounted. The long dimension ofthe liquid crystal panel 11 coincides with the X-axis direction of eachdrawing and the short dimension thereof coincides with the Y-axisdirection of each drawing.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal panel 11 includes at leasta pair of transparent glass boards (having light transmissivity) 11 aand 11 b, a liquid crystal layer 11 c, and a sealing member 11 c. Theliquid crystal layer 11 c is between the boards 11 a and 11 b andincludes liquid crystal molecules having optical characteristics thatchange according to application of the electric field. The sealingmember 11 c is between the boards 11 a and 11 b so as to surround andseal the liquid crystal layer 11 c. One of the boards 11 a and 11 b onthe front side is a CF board (a counter board) 11 a. The other one ofthe boards 11 a and 11 b on the rear side (the back side) is an arrayboard (an active matrix board, component board) 11 b. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the CF board 11 a has a long dimension smaller than that of thearray board 11 b. The CF board 11 a is bonded to the array board 11 bwith one of ends of the short dimension (the upper end in FIG. 1)aligned with a corresponding edge of the array board 11 b and one ofends of the short dimension (the left end in FIG. 1) aligned with acorresponding edge of the array board 11 b. A predetermined area of theother end of the short dimension of the array board 11 b (the lower endin FIG. 1) and a predetermined area of the other end of the longdimension of the array board 11 b (the right end in FIG. 1) do notoverlap the CF board 11 a and front and back plate surfaces of the areaare exposed to the outside. The mounting area in which the driver 21 andthe flexible printed circuit board 13 are mounted is provided in thisarea.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, alignment films 11 d and 11 e are formed oninner surfaces of the boards 11 a and 11 b, respectively, for alignmentof the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 11c. The alignment films 11 d and 11 e are formed of, for example,polyimide. The alignment films 11 d and 11 e are configured to align, byrubbing an entire area of the inner surface thereof with cloth along acertain direction in the manufacturing process (an alignment process),the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer 11 cthat are opposite the alignment films 11 d and 11 e in a certaindirection and maintains the alignment condition. This is so-calledanchoring process. Extending directions of grooves formed with theanchoring process on the inner surfaces of the alignment film 11 d onthe CF board 11 a side and the alignment film 11 e on the array board 11b side are perpendicular to each other (different by 90 degrees). Thus,the liquid crystal panel 11 is a Twisted Nematic type (TN type), namely,the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 11 c that aresubjected to the anchoring process by the alignment films 11 d, 11 e aretwisted at an angle of 90 degrees. A pair of polarizing plates 11 f and11 g are bonded to the outer surfaces of the boards 11 a and 11 b,respectively. The polarizing plates 11 f and 11 g are arranged in acrossed Nicol state and polarizing directions of the polarizing plates11 f and 11 g are perpendicular to each other (different by 90 degrees).The liquid crystal panel 11 is a panel of a normally white mode and whenno voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 11 c, the lighttransmissivity of the liquid crystal panel 11 is maximum and the liquidcrystal panel 11 displays white. The alignment films 11 d and 11 e arearranged to cover the display area AA and the non-display area NAA.Therefore, even if the alignment films 11 d, 11 e may be formed out ofposition during the manufacturing process, the alignment films 11 d and11 e are possibly arranged to cover the display area AA due to a marginon the non-display area NAA side. The alignment films 11 d and 11 e havea margin on the non-display area NAA side (a dimension of an extra partout of the display area AA toward the non-display area NAA) and themargin is about several hundred μm, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal layer 11 c is sealedbetween the boards 11 a and 11 b by a so-called one drop filling method.Liquid crystals that are material for the liquid crystal layer 11 c aredropped on the CF board 11 a and the array board 11 b is bonded to theCF board 11 a. The liquid crystals evenly spread in a space between theboards 11 a and 11 b. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sealing member 11 kis disposed in the non-display area NAA of the liquid crystal panel 11.As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sealing member 11 k has ahorizontally-long rectangular frame shape following the display area AAand the non-display area NAA in a plan view (viewed from a directionnormal to a plate surface of the array board 11 b). In FIG. 1, thesealing member 11 k is illustrated by a dot line forming a frame shapethat is larger than an outer edge line of the display area AA. Adistance between the boards 11 a and 11 b (a thickness of the liquidcrystal layer 11 c), that is, a cell gap is maintained constant withcolumnar spacers (not illustrated) that are formed on the CF board 11 ain the display area AA. The cell gap is maintained constant with thesealing member 11 k at edge areas of the boards 11 a and 11 b. Thesealing member 11 k contains ultraviolet curing resin (curing resin)that is hardened by application of ultraviolet rays. Before theapplication of the ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet curing resin is inthe liquid state having flowability. After the application of theultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet curing resin is hardened and in thesolid state. A number of spacer particles (not illustrated) aredispersed in the ultraviolet curing resin.

Next, configurations of components in the display area AA of the arrayboard 11 b and the CF board 11 a will be described in detail. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, on an inner surface side (the liquidcrystal layer 11 c side, a surface side opposite the CF board 11 a) ofthe array board 11 b, a number of TFTs (thin film transistors) 17, whichare switching components, and a number of pixel electrodes 18 aredisposed in a matrix. Gate lines (row control lines, scanning lines) 19and source lines (column control lines, data lines) 20 are routed in amatrix such that each of the TFTs 17 and the pixel electrodes 18 issurrounded by the gate lines 19 and the source lines 20. Namely, pixelsPX each including the TFT 17 and the pixel electrode 18 are disposed inparallel to be arranged in a matrix at respective corners defined by thegate lines 19 and the source lines 20 that are formed in a matrix. Thepixels PX are arranged in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.The gate lines 19 and the source lines 20 are formed from metal(conductive material). An insulator is interposed between the gate line19 and the source line 20 at an intersection thereof. The gate lines 19and the source lines 20 are connected to gate electrodes and sourceelectrodes of the TFTs 17, respectively. The pixel electrodes 18 areconnected to drain electrodes of TFTs 17. The TFTs 17 include anamorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film as a semiconductor film that enableselectron mobility between the source electrodes and the drainelectrodes. Each of the pixel electrodes 18 has a vertically-longrectangular plan view shape (a rectangular shape) and is made of atransparent electrode material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or zincoxide (ZnO). The pixel electrodes 18 are supplied with a predeterminedvoltage according to a gradation of a display image at a predeterminedtiming via the TFTs 17. The array board 11 b may be provided with anauxiliary capacitor line (not illustrated) that is in parallel to thegate line 19 and crosses and overlaps the pixel electrode 18 having aninsulation layer therebetween.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the CF board 11 a includes colorfilters 11 h including red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color portionsarranged in a matrix so as to overlap the pixel electrodes 18 on thearray board 11 b side in a plan view. A light blocking layer (a lightblocking portion, a black matrix) 11 i is formed in a grid between thecoloring portions of the color filters 11 h for preventing colors frommixing. The light blocking layer 11 i is made of photosensitive resinthat contains a light locking material such as carbon black. The lightblocking layer 11 i is disposed in a grid to overlap the gate lines 19and the source lines 20 in a plan view in the display area AA bypatterning with a photolithography method. The light blocking layer 11 iextends over the display area AA and the non-display area NAA andarrangement of the light blocking layer 11 i in the non-display area NAAwill be described later in detail. On surfaces of the color filters 11 hand the light blocking layer 11 i, a common electrode 11 j is disposedin a solid area opposite the pixel electrode 18 that is on the arrayboard 11 b side. The common electrode 11 j is made of a transparentelectrode material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or zinc oxide (ZnO)similar to the pixel electrodes 18. The common electrode 11 j issupplied with reference potential (common potential) from the arrayboard 11 b side via a connection configuration, which will be describedlater. A voltage is generated according to a potential differencebetween the common electrode 11 j and the pixel electrodes 18 and thevoltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 11 c. The commonelectrode 11 j extends over the display area AA and the non-display areaNAA similar to the light blocking layer 11 i.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the control circuit board 12 includes asubstrate, power components, and electronic components (controlcircuit). The substrate is made of paper phenol or glass epoxy resin.The power components and the electronic components are mounted on thesubstrate. The power components are configured to supply the drivingpower and the reference potential to each driver 21. The electroniccomponents are configured to control supply of input signals of imagesto the liquid crystal panel 11. Traces (electrically conductive paths)which are not illustrated are formed in predetermined patterns. An end(end side) of the flexible printed circuit board 13 is electrically andmechanically connected to the control circuit board 12 via ananisotropic conductive film (ACF), which is not illustrated.

The flexible printed circuit board (an FPC board) 13 includes a basemember made of synthetic resin having an insulating property andflexibility (e.g., polyimide resin) as illustrated in FIG. 1. A numberof traces are formed on the base member (not illustrated). One end ofthe long dimension of the flexible printed circuit board 13 is connectedto the control circuit board 12 as described above, while the other endof the long dimension of the flexible printed circuit board 13 isconnected to the array board 11 b in the liquid crystal panel 11 via theACF. The flexible printed circuit board 13 is therefore bent or foldedback inside the liquid crystal display device 10 such that across-sectional shape thereof forms a U-like shape. At the ends of thelong dimension of the flexible printed circuit board 13, the tracingpatterns are exposed to the outside and configured as terminals (notillustrated). The terminals are electrically connected to the controlcircuit board 12 and the liquid crystal panel 11 via the ACF. With thisconfiguration, input signals supplied by the control circuit board 12are transmitted to the liquid crystal panel 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the driver 21 is provided by an LSI chipincluding drive circuits which are not illustrated. The driver 21 isconfigured to be operated according to signals supplied by the controlcircuit board 12 serving as a power source, to process the input imagesignal supplied by the control circuit board 12 serving as a signalsource to generate output signals, and to output the output signals tothe display area AA of the liquid crystal panel 11. The driver 21 has anelongated rectangular shape in a plan view. The driver 21 is directlymounted in the non-display area NAA of the array board 11 b included inthe liquid crystal panel 11, that is, mounted by the chip-on-glass (COG)mounting method. The driver 21 has a driver-side terminal on a bottomsurface thereof and the driver-side terminal (not illustrated) iselectrically connected via the ACF (not illustrated) to a board-sideterminal (not illustrated) formed on the array board 11 b. The driver 21includes a gate-side driver 21G and source-side drivers 21S. Thegate-side driver 21G is configured to supply scanning signals as outputsignals to the gate lines 19 that are disposed in the display area AA.The source-side drivers 21S are configured to supply data signals asoutput signals to the source lines 20. The gate-side driver 21G isdisposed in substantially middle on the short-side edge area of thearray board 11 b and the long dimension and the short dimension thereofcorrespond to the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction,respectively. The source-side drivers 21S are disposed in the long-sideedge area of the array board 11 b to be offset from the middle, and thelong dimension and the short dimension thereof correspond to the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction, respectively. The two source-sidedrivers 21S are disposed having a predetermined distance therebetween inthe X-axis direction (in the long-side direction of the array board 11b) and on a straight line along the X-axis. In the following, a suffixletter of “G” is provided to the reference numerals for the gate-sidedrivers and a suffix letter of “S” is provided to the reference numeralsfor the source-side drivers to distinguishing each of the drivers 21,and no suffix letter is provided to the reference numerals for thegeneral drivers 21.

Next, the backlight unit 14 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the backlight unit 14 includes at least LEDs 22 as light sources, an LEDboard 23 where the LEDs 22 are mounted, a light guide plate 24, opticalsheets 25, and a reflection sheet 26. The light guide plate 24 guideslight emitted by the LEDs 22 toward the liquid crystal panel 11. Theoptical sheets 25 apply optical characteristics to the light from thelight guide plate 24 and convert the light into a planar light and theplanar light exits the optical sheets 25 toward the liquid crystal panel11. The reflection sheet 26 is disposed on an opposite side from theoptical sheet 25 side with respect to the light guide plate 24. Thelight reflects off the reflection sheet 26 and is directed toward theoptical sheets 25 (a liquid crystal panel 11 side). The LEDs 22 emitssubstantially white light and each LED 22 has a light emission surfaceon a side surface adjacent to a mount surface that is attached to theLED board 23, namely, the LEDs 22 are so called a side-surface lightemission type. The LED board 23 includes a sheet-like (film-like)flexible base board made of an insulation material. The LEDs 22 aresurface mounted on the base board and the tracing pattern for supplyingpower to the LEDs 22 is formed on the base board with patterning. TheLED board 23 is bonded directly to a rear-side surface of the liquidcrystal panel 11 on the short-side edge portion thereof with adouble-sided adhesive tape 27. The light guide plate 24 is made ofsynthetic resin that is substantially transparent (having hightransmissivity) (acrylic resin such as PMMA). The light guide plate 24has an elongated sheet-like (film-like) shape having a plate surfaceparallel to the plate surface of the liquid crystal panel 11. The lightguide plate 24 has peripheral edge surfaces and a short-side edgesurface of the peripheral edge surfaces is opposite the LEDs 22. Theshort-side edge surface is a light entrance surface 24 a through whichlight from the LEDs 22 enters the light guide plate 24. The light guideplate 24 has front and rear surfaces and the front surface is a lightexit surface 24 b that is opposite the optical sheets 25 and throughwhich light guided within the light guide plate 24 exits the light guideplate 24. The optical sheets 25 are disposed on the light exit surface24 b of the light guide plate 24 and interposed between the liquidcrystal panel 11 and the light guide plate 24. Accordingly, while thelight exiting the light guide plate 24 passes through the optical sheets25, the optical sheets 25 apply certain optical characteristics to thelight and the light exits the optical sheets 25 toward the liquidcrystal panel 11. The reflection sheet 26 is disposed to cover therear-side surface of the light guide plate (the opposite surface fromthe light exit surface 24 b). The reflection sheet 26 has a flexiblesheet-like shape made of synthetic resin and having a light reflectivewhite surface. With such a configuration, the light travelling withinthe light guide plate 24 is effectively directed by the reflection sheet26 toward the front side (the light exit surface 24 b).

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the touch panel 15 is a position input devicewith which a user inputs position information within a display surfaceplane of the liquid crystal panel 11. The touch panel 15 includes asubstantially transparent glass substrate having a horizontally-longrectangular shape and good light transmissivity and a predeterminedtouch panel pattern (not illustrated) formed thereon. Specifically, thetouch panel 15 includes a glass substrate that has a horizontally-longrectangular in a plan view similar to the liquid crystal panel 11 andtouch panel transparent electrodes (not illustrated) formed thereon. Thetouch panel transparent electrodes formed on a front surface of theglass substrate have a touch panel pattern of a projection capacitancetype. Within a substrate plane, the touch panel transparent electrodesare arranged in rows and columns. The touch panel 15 includes a terminal(not illustrated) on one of the long side edge portions thereof. Theterminal is connected to an end of a line extended from the touch paneltransparent electrode included in the touch panel pattern. The flexibleboard (not illustrated) is connected to the terminal so that a potentialis applied from a touch panel driving circuit board to the touch paneltransparent electrodes included in the touch panel pattern. An innerplate surface of the touch panel 15 is opposite an outer plate surfaceof the liquid crystal panel 11 (an opposite surface opposite from theoptical sheet 25 side surface) and the touch panel 15 is bonded to theliquid crystal panel 11 firmly with an adhesive 28 therebetween. Theadhesive 28 is made of ultraviolet curing resin, for example.

The casing 16 is made of synthetic resin or metal and has asubstantially box shape opening frontward as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thecomponents of the touch panel 15, the liquid crystal panel 11, and thebacklight unit 14 are arranged in the casing 16 through the opening in acertain sequence from the front side. The casing 16 includes a bottomportion that supports the light guide plate 24 and the reflection sheet26 included in the backlight unit 14 from the rear side. The casing 16includes outer walls that projects from the bottom portion and the outerwalls surround the touch panel 15, the liquid crystal panel 11, and thebacklight unit 14 from the outer peripheral side.

Next, a configuration of components in the non-display area NAA of thearray board 11 b and the CF board 11 a will be described in detail. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, the array board 11 b includes signal lineconnection line portion (a narrow line portion, a signal transmit lineportion) 29 and a common electrode connection line portion (a wide lineportion, a reference potential transmit line portion) 30 on an innersurface side thereof (on the liquid crystal layer 11 c side, a surfaceside opposite the CF board 11 a). The signal line connection lines 29connect each of the drivers 21G, 21S and the lines 19, 20 disposed inthe display area AA. The common electrode connection line portion 30 isconnected to the common electrode 11 j. The signal line connection lines29 are configured to transmit output signals generated with processed bythe drivers 21G, 21S to the lines 19, 20. The common electrodeconnection line portion 30 is configured to transmit a referencepotential to the common electrode 11 j of the CF board 11 a. Thereference potential is transmitted from the control circuit board 12 tothe liquid crystal panel 11 via the flexible board 13. The signal lineconnection lines 29 transmit image output signals to each of the lines19, 20 independently. Therefore, the signal line connection lines 29 aredisposed parallel to each other and each of the lines has a widthsmaller than a line width of lines included in the common electrodeconnection line portion 30. The common electrode connection line portion30 needs to decrease line resistance to ensure stable transmission ofthe reference potential. Therefore, each line included in the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 has a width greater than that ofeach signal line connection line 29 and the common electrode connectionline portion 30 has an area greater than that of the signal lineconnection lines 29. The signal line connection lines 29 and the linesincluded in the common electrode connection line portion 30 are made ofmetal same as that of one of the lines 19 and the lines 20. The signalline connection lines 29 and the common electrode connection lineportion 30 are formed on the array board 11 b with pattering by a knownphotolithography method at the same time of forming the gate lines 19 orthe source lines 20 with patterning in the manufacturing process of thearray board 11 b. Specifically, in this embodiment, the signal lineconnection lines 29 and the lines included in the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 are made of the metal same as that of thegate lines 19.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, some of the signal line connectionlines 29 are connected to the gate-side driver 21G and the gate lines19, and another of the signal line connection lines 29 are connected tothe source-side drivers 21S and the source lines 20. The signal lineconnection lines 29 are routed from each driver 21G, 21S to spreadtoward the display area AA like a fan-shape. This is because the lengthof each driver 21G, 21S is smaller than the range in the display area AAwhere the lines 19, 20 are disposed (that is the range slightly smallerthan the short dimension or the long dimension of the array board 11 b).Specifically, the signal line connection lines 29 are disposed in themount area of the array board 11 b where the drivers 21G, 21S aremounted. The signal line connection lines 29 extend toward the displayarea AA from the output board-side terminals that are connected to theoutput driver-side terminals of each driver 21G, 21S so as to be angledwith respect to the extending direction of the lines 19, 20.Accordingly, the signal line connection lines 29 extend and spreadoutwardly to be farther away from each driver 21G, 21S as is closer tothe display area AA. The signal line connection lines 29 are parallel toeach other with having a certain distance therebetween to constitute asignal line connection line 29 group for each of the drivers 21G, 21S.The signal line connection line 29 groups that are routed from therespective drivers 21G, 21S have a substantially inverted triangle shapein a plan view as a whole. An entire width dimension of the signal lineconnection line 29 group as a whole is increased as is closer to thedisplay area AA and decreased as is farther away from the display areaAA. Among the signal line connection lines 29 included in the signalline connection line 29 group, the signal line connection lines 29extending from end portions of each driver 21G, 21S are angled at arelatively greater angle with respect to the extending direction of thelines 19, 20 to be connected than the signal line connection lines 29extending from a middle portion of each driver 21G, 21S. The signal lineconnection lines 29 are arranged at an interval (that is an emptyportion width of an empty portion formed between adjacent signal lineconnection lines 29) and the interval is substantially equal to a linewidth of each signal line connection line 29. Specifically, the linewidth of the signal line connection line 29 and the interval between thesignal line connection lines 29 are about 10 μm, for example. In thisembodiment, the signal line connection lines 29 that connect thesource-side drivers 21S and the source lines 20 are illustrated in thedrawings. However, the signal line connection lines 29 that connect thegate-side driver 21G and the gate lines 19 have similar configurations.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the non-display area NAA of the array board11 b, the signal line connection line 29 groups extending from therespective source-side drivers 21S form a substantially triangle regionin a plan view therebetween, and the common electrode connection lineportion 30 is disposed in the triangle region. Namely, the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 is disposed between the two signalline connection line 29 groups. The common electrode connection lineportion 30 has a substantially triangle island-shape in a plan view. Thecommon electrode connection line group 30 has an area greater than thatof the signal line connection line 29 portion and each line in thecommon electrode connection line group 30 has a line width greater thanthat of the signal line connection line 29. The common electrodeconnection line portion 30 has a planar shape so that a width dimensionthereof decreases as a whole as is closer to the display area AA and thewidth dimension thereof increases as is farther away from the displayarea AA. The common electrode connection line portion 30 has an edgeportion (a middle portion with respect to the X-axis direction) closestto the display area AA and the edge portion has a substantially straightouter line along the X-axis direction. The common electrode connectionline portion 30 has two side edge portions opposite the respectivesignal line connection line 29 groups and the two side edge portions areangled in a plan view at an inclination angle same as the inclinationangle of the signal line connection line 29. Namely, the side edgeportions of the common electrode connection line portion 30 aresubstantially parallel to the extending direction of the signal lineconnection lines 29. The common electrode connection line portion 30includes a transfer pad portion 30 a that is electrically connected tothe common electrode 11 j on the CF board 11 a side to supply thereference potential. The connection configuration of the transfer padportion 30 a and the common electrode 11 j will be described in detaillater. The common electrode connection line portion 30 is connected tothe source-side driver 21S or the flexible board 13 and has a terminalto receive supply of the reference potential directly from thesource-side driver 21S or the flexible board 13.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, each of the signal line connection lines 29 isnot connected directly to each of the lines 19, 20 but is connectedthereto via a dummy pixel 31 and an ESD protection portion 32. The dummypixels 31 and the ESD protection portions 32 are disposed in thenon-display area NAA of the array board 11 b. The dummy pixels 31 aredisposed adjacent to the pixels PX that are arranged on an outermostedge in the display area AA, and the ESD protection portions 32 aredisposed to sandwich the dummy pixels 31 with the pixels PX that arearranged on the outermost edge in the display area AA. In FIG. 6, due toa size of the paper, the pixels PX, the ESD protection portions 32 andthe dummy pixels 31 are illustrated simply. A group of the pixels PXarranged in the X-axis direction, a group of the ESD protection portions32 arranged in the X-axis direction, and a group of the dummy pixel 31arranged in the X-axis direction are represented by a horizontally-longblock.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the dummy pixel 31 includes a dummy TFTconnected to the source line 20, a dummy gate line 31 a connected to thedummy TFT, a dummy pixel electrode connected to the dummy TFT, and adummy pixel light blocking portion having a light blocking property.Namely, the dummy pixel 31 has a configuration substantially same asthat of the pixel PX and such dummy pixels 31 are arranged so that thepixels PX arranged adjacent to the dummy pixels 31 and on the outermostedge in the display area AA and other pixels PX have the same conditionssuch as a capacity. The dummy pixels 31 are arranged in the non-displayarea NAA. Therefore, light is blocked by the dummy pixel light blockingportions to prevent the light from transmitting through the dummy pixelelectrodes. The dummy pixel light blocking portions are made of metalsame as that of one of the lines 19 and the lines 20. The dummy TFTs aremonolithically fabricated on the array board 11 b with using anamorphous-silicon thin film as a base material same as that of the TFTs17 included in the pixels PX. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the dummy pixels31 are arranged at intervals along the X-axis direction that isperpendicular to the extending direction of the source lines 20. Thedummy pixel 31 has a width dimension substantially same as that of thepixel PX and relatively greater than that of the signal line connectionline 29. Therefore, the light blocking rate of a dummy pixel 31 group,that is a rate of the light blocking amount to the light transmissionamount, is higher than the light blocking rate of the signal lineconnection line 29 group.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the ESD protection portion 32 is disposed forevery signal line connection line 29 corresponding to each source line20. The ESD protection portion 32 includes a diode ring (notillustrated) as an ESD protection circuit. The diode ring includes twodiodes that are arranged in a ring shape. The diode ring isindependently connected to each signal line connection line 29corresponding to each source line 20. The diode rings are monolithicallyfabricated on the array board 11 b using an amorphous-silicon thin filmas a base material same as that of the TFTs 17 included in the pixelsPX. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ESD protection portions 32 arearranged at intervals along the X-axis direction that is perpendicularto the extending direction of the source lines 20. The adjacent ESDprotection portions 32 are short-circuited by an ESD short-circuit line32 a. If static electricity is discharged to any one of the signal lineconnection lines 29, the static electricity is discharged or dispersedto the adjacent signal line connection lines 29 via the ESD protectionportions 32 so that the static electricity is less likely to bedischarged and reach the pixels PX via the source lines 20. The ESDprotection portion 32 has a width dimension relatively greater than thatof the signal line connection line 29 and relatively smaller than thatof the pixel PX and the dummy pixel 31. The ESD protection portions 32are arranged at two different intervals. Six adjacent ESD protectionportions 32 are arranged at intervals same as the pixels PX and thedummy pixels 31 are arranged. An interval between an outermost ESDprotection portion 32 included in the ESD protection 32 group includingthe ESD protection portions 32 arranged at equal intervals and anoutermost ESD protection portion 32 included in another ESD protection32 group adjacent to the above ESD protection 32 group is greater thanthe interval between the pixels PX and the interval between the dummypixels 31. A light blocking portion between ESD protection portions 33having a light blocking property is disposed in the relatively greatinterval between the adjacent two outermost ESD protection portions 32.The light blocking portion between ESD protection portions 33 is made ofmetal same as that of one of the lines 19 and the lines 20 (the sourcelines 20, in this embodiment). An interval between the light blockingportion between ESD protection portions 33 and the adjacent ESDprotection portion 32 is substantially equal to the interval between theadjacent ESD protection portions 32. Therefore, the light blocking rateof the ESD protection 32 group, that is a rate of the light blockingamount to the light transmission amount, is substantially equal to thelight blocking rate of the dummy pixel 31 group. The light blocking rateof the ESD protection portion 32 group is higher than the light blockingrate of the signal line connection line 29 group.

The light blocking layer 11 i that is formed in a grid in the displayarea A of the CF board 11 a is formed in a solid area in the non-displayarea NAA, as illustrated in FIG. 8. An outer edge of the light blockinglayer 11 i in the non-display area NAA reaches a middle of the sealingmember 11 k. Accordingly, in the non-display area NAA, the lightblocking layer 11 i overlaps the dummy pixel 31 group, the ESDprotection portion 32 group, the signal line connection line 29 group,and the common electrode connection line portion 30 in a plan view. Inthe non-display area NAA of the CF board 11 a and the array board 11 b,the pair of alignment films 11 d and 11 e are formed in a solid arearanging over a substantially entire area except for the connectionportion between the transfer pad portion 30 a of the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 and the common electrode 11 j and the portionwhere the sealing member 11 k is formed. The alignment films 11 d and 11e are formed to overlap the dummy pixel 31 group, the ESD protectionportion 32 group, the signal line connection line 29 group, and a partof the common electrode connection portion 30 (an alignment film overlapportion 36) in a plan view. On the array board 11 b, the signal lineconnection lines 29 and the common electrode connection line portion 30are covered with an insulation film INS.

The light blocking layer 11 i improves the light blocking propertythereof as the thickness thereof increases. However, the flatness of thelayer may be deteriorated or a cell gap error may be caused if thethickness of the light blocking layer 11 i increases. Further, the lightblocking property of the light blocking layer 11 i is improved as adensity of the light blocking material (such as carbon black) containedin the light blocking layer 11 i is increased. However, sensitivity ofthe photosensitive resin material is lowered in patterning thephotosensitive resin with the photolithography to form the lightblocking layer 11 i and it is difficult to form the light blocking layer11 i. Accordingly, it may be difficult to ensure an effective thicknessof the light blocking layer 11 i or an effective density of the lightblocking material. Then, the light blocking layer 11 i may haveinsufficient light blocking property and light is likely to pass throughthe light blocking layer 11 i. The signal line connection lines 29disposed to overlap the light blocking layer 11 i in a plan view arearranged at intervals. Therefore, light passes through the emptyportions between the adjacent signal line connection lines 29 so thatthe signal line connection lines 29 may be seen by a user of the liquidcrystal display device 10 as a shadow and this may deteriorateappearance of the liquid crystal display device 10 (the liquid crystalpanel 11). Especially, the liquid crystal panel 11 in this embodiment isa normally white mode panel in which the light transmittance is highestwhen no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 11 c. Since nopixel PX is disposed near the sealing member 11 k, the lighttransmittance of the portion of the liquid crystal layer 11 c near thesealing member 11 k is always highest and light easily leaks therefrom.Therefore, the shadow is seen by the user and the appearance is likelyto be deteriorated. Further, other than the signal line connection lines29, the common electrode connection line portion 30 overlaps the lightblocking layer 11 i in a plan view. If the common electrode connectionline portion is formed in a solid pattern, light is less likely to passthrough the common electrode connection line portion. Therefore, thetransmission amount of light passing through the signal line connectionlines 29 that are arranged at intervals greatly differs from that oflight passing through the common electrode connection line portion. Insuch a configuration, the common electrode connection line is likely tobe seen as a shadow by a user and this may deteriorate the appearance ofthe panel. If a light blocking layer made of a metal layer is disposedin addition to the light blocking layer 11 i, a parasitic capacitance isformed between the light blocking layer made of the metal layer and thesignal line connection lines 29 and this may cause distortion of signalstransmitted to the signal line connection lines 29.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 partially includes empty portions34 and light passes through the empty portions 34. According to such aconfiguration, even if light passes through the light blocking layer 11i in the non-display area NAA, the light passes through the emptyportions between the adjacent signal line connection lines 29 and thelight passes through the empty portions 34 in the common electrodeconnection line portion 30. Accordingly, it is less likely to be causedthat only the common electrode connection line portion 30 is seen by theuser as a shadow. Even if light leaks through the light blocking layer11 i, both of the signal line connection line 29 portion and the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 are similarly seen through by auser. Therefore, a belt-shaped shadow is seen as a whole. In such aconfiguration, the appearance of the liquid crystal display device 10(the liquid crystal panel 11) is less likely to be deteriorated comparedto the configuration in which only the common electrode connection lineportion 30 having a substantially triangle plan view shape is seen as ashadow. Especially, when the liquid crystal display device 10 is used asan in-vehicle terminal and a great amount of outside light streams intoa vehicle interior, an amount of rays of light directed toward theliquid crystal panel 11 from the backlight unit 14 is increased.Therefore, the above problems may occur. However, the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 includes the empty portions 34 so that thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 is less likely to be seenand good appearance of the liquid crystal display device 10 ismaintained. According to the above configuration, another light blockinglayer made of a metal layer is not necessary to be arranged unlike theconfiguration in that the light blocking layer made of metal layer isseparately arranged from the light blocking layer 11 i. Therefore,unnecessary parasitic capacitance is not generated with respect to thesignal line connection lines 29 and distortion is less likely to becaused in the signals transmitted to the signal line connection lines29. The empty portions 34 are formed when the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 is patterned during the manufacturing processof the liquid crystal panel 11. For example, the area where thealignment films 11 d and 11 e are formed may be changed so that thealignment films 11 d and 11 e do not overlap the common electrodeconnection line portion 30. Accordingly, the empty portions 34 areformed in precise positions and production yield is improved compared tothe configuration in which light is less likely to pass through theliquid crystal layer 11 c in a portion thereof overlapping the commonelectrode connection line portion 30.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the empty portion 34 isformed in a slit-like shape that extends along two side edge portions ofthe common electrode connection line portion 30 and an edge portion ofthe common electrode connection line portion 30 closest to the displayarea AA. The common electrode connection line portion 30 includesmultiple empty portions 34 that are arranged at intervals. The commonelectrode connection line portion 30 includes divided common electrodeconnection lines (divided lines) 35 that are defined by the emptyportions 30 and arranged at intervals. The divided common electrodeconnection lines 35 are parallel to the empty portions 34. The emptyportions 34 and the divided common electrode connection lines 35 includeangled portions and straight portions. The angled portions extend alongthe two side edge portions of the common electrode connection lineportion 30. The straight portions extend along the edge portion of thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 closest to the display areaAA, that is, along the X-axis direction. The empty portions 34 and thedivided common electrode connection lines 35 are arranged alternatelyand in a repeated sequence in the common electrode connection lineportion 30. The empty portion 34 is disposed between the two adjacentdivided common electrode connection lines 35 and the distance betweenthe two adjacent divided common electrode connection lines 35 is equalto the empty portion width of the empty portion 34. The empty portionwidth of the empty portion 34 is substantially equal to a line width ofthe divided common electrode connection line 35. Specifically, the emptyportion width of the empty potion 34 and the line width of the dividedcommon electrode connection lien 35 is approximately 10 μm, for example.Therefore, the empty portion width of the empty portion 34 and the linewidth of the divided common electrode connection line 35 aresubstantially equal to the line width of the signal line connection line29 and the distance between the signal line connection lines 29 (theempty width of the empty portion between the adjacent two signal lineconnection lines 29). Further, in an area of the common electrodeconnection line portion 30, a ratio of a total area of the dividedcommon electrode connection lines 35 to a total area of the emptyportions 34 is substantially equal to a ratio of a total area of thesignal line connection lines 29 to a total area of the empty portionsbetween the adjacent signal line connection lines 29. According to sucha configuration, even if light leaks through the light blocking layer 11i, the signal line connection line 29 group and the common electrodeconnection line potion 30 are similarly seen to a user of the liquidcrystal device 10 and the appearance of the liquid crystal displaydevice 10 is preferably maintained. Specific light blocking rate of thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 and that of the signal lineconnection line 29 group is approximately 50% in this embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the empty portions 34 are not formedover an entire area of the common electrode connection line portion 30,and the empty portions 34 are not formed in a certain portion of thecommon electrode connection line portion 30. Specifically, the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 is divided into an alignment filmoverlap portion 36 that overlaps the alignment films 11 d and 11 e in aplan view and an alignment film non-overlap portion 37 that does notoverlap the alignment films 11 d and 11 e in a plan view. The emptyportions 34 are formed in an entire area of the alignment overlapportion 36 and a part of the alignment film non-overlap portion 37.Since the empty portions 34 are formed over an entire area of thealignment film overlap portion 36, a part of rays of light that passesthrough the liquid crystal layer 11 c having orientation by thealignment films 11 d and 11 e is passed through the empty portions 34.Thus, the signal line connection line 29 group and the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 keep the respective amount of transmissionlight to be equal and good appearance of the liquid crystal displaydevice 10 is maintained. The alignment film overlap portion 36corresponds to a substantially plan view triangle portion of the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 that is opposite the display areaAA. The alignment film non-overlap portion 37 corresponds to asubstantially plan view trapezoidal portion of the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 except for the alignment film overlap portion36. Further, the alignment film non-overlap portion 37 is divided into asealing member overlap portion 38 that overlaps the sealing member 11 kin a plan view and a sealing member non-overlap portion 39 that does notoverlap the sealing member 11 k in a plan view. The empty portions 34are formed over an entire area of the sealing member overlap portion 38and are not formed in the sealing member non-overlap portion 39. Namely,the empty portions 34 are selectively formed only on the sealing memberoverlap portion 38 of the alignment film non-overlap portion 37. Theempty portions 34 formed in the sealing member overlap portion 38correspond to sealing empty portions (empty portions for curing sealingmember) 40 through which ultraviolet rays passes to cure ultravioletrays curing resin included in the sealing member 11 k. Accordingly, whenthe sealing member 11 k is cured during the manufacturing process of theliquid crystal panel 11, ultraviolet rays pass through the sealing emptyportions 40 and are directed toward the ultraviolet curing resinincluded in the sealing member 11 k. Thus, the curing of the ultravioletcuring resin is effectively accelerated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the alignment film non-overlapportion 37, the sealing member non-overlap portion 39 having no emptyportions 34 corresponds to the transfer pad portion 30 a that isconnected to the common electrode 11 j. Namely, no empty portions 34 areformed on the transfer pad portion 30 a and this increases reliabilityof connection between a conductive pad portion 41 and the commonelectrode 11 j. A connection configuration of the transfer pad portion30 a and the common electrode 11 j will be described in detail. Contactholes CH are formed in a portion of the insulation film INS overlappingthe transfer pad portion 30 a in a plan view. The conductive pad portion41 that is on an upper-layer side is electrically connected to thetransfer pad portion 30 a via the contact holes CH. The contact holes CHare illustrated by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 7. The contact holes CHare disposed in rows and columns at intervals on the transfer padportion 30 a. The interval between the contact holes CH is relativelygreater than the line width of the signal line connection line 29, theinterval between the signal line connection lines 29, the empty portionwidth of the empty portion 34, and the line width of the divided commonelectrode connection line 35 (for example, the contact holes each havinga size of 45 μm by 45 μm are arranged at the interval of 30 μm).Conducting particles CS are disposed between the conductive pad portion41 and the common electrode 11 j, and the common electrode 11 j and thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 are electrically connectedeach other via the conducting particles CS. The conducting particles CSare mixed with a material of the sealing member 11 k and the conductivepad portion 31 and the common electrode 11 j are arranged to fit intothe sealing member 11 k. Accordingly, the conductive pad portion 41 andthe common electrode 11 j are connected to each other via the conductingparticles CS in the sealing member 41 k.

As is described above, the first liquid crystal panel (the displaydevice) 11 of this embodiment includes the display area AA fordisplaying images, the non-display area NAA outside the display area AA,the light blocking layer (the light blocking portion) 11 j arranged atleast in the non-display area for blocking light, the signal lineconnection lines (the narrow line portion) 29 that are disposed atintervals in the non-display area NAA, the common electrode connectionline portion (the wide line portion) 30 disposed in the non-display areaNAA and partially including empty portions 34. Each of the connectionlines included in the common electrode connection line portion 30 iswider than the signal line connection line 29.

According to such a configuration, the light blocking layer 11 i forblocking light is disposed in the non-display area NAA that is outsidethe display area AA where images appear. Therefore, the signal lineconnection lines 29 and the common electrode connection line portion 30are less likely to be seen by a user of the liquid crystal panel 11. Ifthe light blocking property of the light blocking layer 11 i isinsufficient and light transmits through the light blocking layer 11 i,the light transmits through portions between the adjacent signal lineconnection lines 29 that are arranged at intervals. In such aconfiguration, if the common electrode connection line portion 30 has noempty portions 34 and is formed in a solid pattern, the light is lesslikely to pass through the common electrode connection line portion 30and the amount of light passing through the common electrode connectionline portion 30 and that of light passing through the signal lineconnection lines 29 greatly differ from each other. As a result, thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 is likely to be seen as ashadow by the user of the liquid crystal panel 11 and this maydeteriorate the appearance of the liquid crystal panel 11. In thisembodiment, the common electrode connection line portion 30 partiallyincludes empty portions 34 and the light passes through the emptyportions 34 of the common electrode connection portion 30 similarly tothe signal line connection lines 29. Accordingly, it is less likely tooccur that the common electrode connection line portion 30 is seen as ashadow by the user of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the goodappearance of the liquid crystal panel 11 is maintained. If the lightblocking layer of a metal for blocking light is additionally arranged toprevent leakage of light, the metal light blocking layer may generateparasitic capacitance with the signal line connection lines 29 or thecommon electrode connection line portion 30. However, the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 partially having the empty portions34 may obviate occurrence of such a problem.

The common electrode connection line portion 30 is formed such that aratio of the area thereof to the area of the empty portions 34 issubstantially equal to a ratio of the area of the signal line connectionline 29 portion to an area of the empty portions that are between theadjacent signal line connection lines 29. According to such aconfiguration, the amount of light that is blocked by the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 is equal to the amount of lightthat is blocked by the signal line connection lines 29, and the amountof light passing through the empty portions 34 of the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 is equal to the amount of light passingthrough the empty portions between the adjacent signal line connectionlines 29. Therefore, the common electrode connection line portion 30 andthe signal line connection line 29 portion are seen by the user of theliquid crystal panel 11 with similar brightness and this effectivelyimproves the appearance of the liquid crystal panel 11.

The common electrode connection line portion 30 includes the dividedcommon electrode connection lines (the divided lines) 35 that aredefined by the empty portions 34 and arranged at intervals with theempty portions therebetween. According to such a configuration, thedivided common electrode connection lines 35 included in the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 are defined by the empty portions34 and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals similarly to thesignal line connection lines 29. Accordingly, the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 and the signal line connection lines 29 areseen by the user of the liquid crystal panel 11 with similar brightnessand the appearance is improved.

In the common electrode connection line portion 30, the line width ofeach divided common electrode connection line 35 is equal to the linewidth of each signal line connection line 29 and the interval betweenthe adjacent divided common electrode connection lines 35 is equal tothe interval between the adjacent signal line connection lines 29.According to such a configuration, the amount of light that is blockedby the divided common electrode connection lines 35 included in thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 is equal to the amount oflight that is blocked by the signal line connection lines 29, and theamount of light passing through the empty portions 34 between theadjacent divided common electrode connection lines 35 is equal to theamount of light passing through the empty portions between the adjacentsignal line connection lines 29. Accordingly, the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 and the signal line connection lines 29 areseen by the user of the liquid crystal panel 11 with similar brightnessand the appearance is improved.

The liquid crystal panel 11 further includes a pair of boards 11 a and11 b that are defined into the display area AA and the non-display areaNAA, the liquid crystal layer 11 c sandwiched between the boards 11 aand 11 b, and a pair of alignment films 11 d and 11 e. The alignmentfilms 11 d and 11 e are formed on plate surfaces of the respectiveboards 11 a and 11 b on the liquid crystal layer 11 c side and extendover the display area AA and the non-display area NAA. The alignmentfilms 11 d and 11 e are configured to orient the liquid crystalmolecules contained in the liquid crystal layer 11 c. A part of thesignal line connection lines 29 overlaps the alignment films 11 d and 11e. The common electrode connection line portion 30 includes thealignment film overlap portion 36 and the alignment film non-overlapportion 37. The alignment film overlap portion 36 overlaps the alignmentfilms 11 d and 11 e in a plan view. The alignment film non-overlapportion 37 does not overlap the alignment films 11 d and 11 e in a planview. The empty portions 34 are formed at least on the alignment filmoverlap portion 36. According to such a configuration, a pair ofalignment films 11 d and 11 e is formed on respective plate surfaces ofa pair of boards 11 a and 11 b opposite the liquid crystal layer 11 c sothat the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 11 c areoriented appropriately. The amount of light passing through the liquidcrystal layer 11 c is controlled by a voltage applied to the liquidcrystal layer 11 c. The pair of alignment films 11 d and 11 e isdisposed to extend over the display area AA and the non-display areaNAA. Therefore, even if positions of the alignment films 11 d and 11 eare displaced from the correct positions during the manufacturingprocess, the alignment films are possibly disposed in the display areaAA. A part of rays of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 11c including the liquid crystal molecules oriented by the alignment films11 d and 11 e passes through portions between the signal line connectionlines 29 at least apart of which overlaps the alignment films 11 d and11 e in a plan view. The common electrode connection line portion 30includes the alignment film overlap portion 36 overlapping the alignmentfilms 11 d and 11 e in a plan view and the alignment film non-overlapportion 37 that does not overlap the alignment films 11 d and 11 e in aplan view. The alignment film overlap portion 36 includes the emptyportions 34 and therefore, a part of rays of light passing through theliquid crystal layer 11 c oriented by the alignment films 11 d and 11 epasses through the empty portions 34 formed in the alignment filmoverlap portion 36. Accordingly, the common electrode connection lineportion 30 is less likely to be seen as a shadow by the user and thegood appearance of the liquid crystal panel 11 is maintained.

The liquid crystal panel 11 includes the sealing member 11 k between theboards 11 a and 11 b and the sealing member 11 k surrounds the liquidcrystal layer 11 c to enclose the liquid crystal layer 11 c. The sealingmember 11 k is made of photo curing resin. The alignment filmnon-overlap portion 37 includes the sealing member overlap portion 38that overlaps the sealing member 11 k in a plan view and the sealingmember non-overlap portion 39 that does not overlap the sealing member11 k in a plan view. The sealing member overlap portion 38 selectivelyincludes sealing member empty portions 40 through which light passes tocure the sealing member 11 k. Accordingly, the liquid crystal layer 11 csandwiched between the boards 11 a and 11 b is disposed between theboards 11 a and 11 b and enclosed by the sealing member 11 k thatsurrounds the liquid crystal layer 11 c. The sealing member 11 k made ofphoto curing resin is cured by irradiation of light during themanufacturing process. The alignment film non-overlap portion 37includes the sealing member overlap portion 38 overlapping the sealingmember 11 k in a plan view and the sealing member non-overlap portion 39that does not overlap the sealing member 11 k in a plan view. Thesealing member overlap portion 38 selectively includes the sealingmember empty portions 40 so that light for curing the sealing member 11k passes through the sealing member empty portions 40 of the sealingmember overlap portion 38 and is directed to the sealing member 11 kduring the manufacturing process. Even if the alignment film non-overlapportion 37 includes the sealing member overlap portion 38, the sealingmember 11 k is effectively cured. The sealing member non-overlap portion39 of the alignment film non-overlap portion 37 does not include thesealing member empty portions 40. This is preferable for keeping an areaof the common electrode connection line portion 30 and decreasing lineresistance in the common electrode connection line portion 30.

The signal line connection lines 29, the common electrode connectionline portion 30, and at least the pixel electrodes 18 are formed on aplate surface of one 11 b of the boards 11 a and 11 b opposite theliquid crystal layer 11 c. The light blocking layer 11 k and the commonelectrode 11 j opposite at least the pixel electrodes 18 are disposed ona plate surface of another board 11 a opposite the liquid crystal layer11 c. The sealing member non-overlap portion 39 of the common electrodeconnection line portion 30 is electrically connected to the commonelectrode 11 j. According to such a configuration, potential differenceis generated between the pixel electrodes 18 disposed on the liquidcrystal layer 11 c side plate surface of the one board 11 b and thecommon electrode 11 j disposed on the liquid crystal layer 11 c sideplate surface of the other board 11 a so that the amount of lightpassing through the liquid crystal layer 11 c is controlled bycontrolling the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in theliquid crystal layer 11 c. In the common electrode connection lineportion 30, no empty portion 34 is formed in the sealing membernon-overlap portion that does not overlap the sealing member 11 k. Thisensures high reliability in the electrical connection with the commonelectrode 11 j.

The drivers (signal processors) 21 are disposed at intervals in thenon-display area NAA. The drivers receive input signals supplied from anexternal signal supply source and processes the input signals togenerate output signals and output the generated signals to the displayarea AA. The signal line connection lines 29 extend from the drivers 21to the display area AA and transmit the output signals to the displayarea AA. The signal line connection lines 29 extend and spread from therespective drivers 21 toward the display area AA in a fan-shape. Thecommon electrode connection line portion 30 is disposed between twoadjacent groups of the signal line connection lines 29 extending fromthe respective adjacent two drivers 21. According to such aconfiguration, the output signals generated by the drivers 21 aretransmitted to the display area AA via the signal line connection lines29 extending and spreading from the respective drivers 21, which arearranged at intervals, to the display area AA in a fan-shape. In theconfiguration that the common electrode connection line portion 30 isdisposed between the two adjacent groups of the signal line connectionlines 29 extending from the respective adjacent two drivers 21, if theamount of light passing through the signal line connection lines 29differs from the amount of light passing through the common electrodeconnection line portion 30, the appearance of the liquid crystal panel11 may be deteriorated. However, the common electrode connection lineportion 30 includes the empty portions 34 in this embodiment so that thedifference between the amount of light passing through the signal lineconnection lines 29 and the amount of light passing through the commonelectrode connection line portion 30 is reduced. Accordingly, theappearance of the liquid crystal panel 11 is improved.

The liquid crystal panel 11 further includes a pair of boards 11 a and11 b that include the display area AA and the non-display area NAA, theliquid crystal layer 11 c between the boards 11 a and 11 b, and a pairof alignment films 11 d and 11 e. The alignment films 11 d and 11 e aredisposed on the respective liquid crystal layer 11 c side plate surfacesof the boards 11 a and 11 b and are disposed in at least the displayarea AA to orient the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer 11 c. The liquid crystal panel 11 is a normally white modepanel in which the light transmittance is highest when no voltage isapplied between the boards 11 a and 11 b. In the liquid crystal panel 11that is a normally white mode panel, the light transmittance is highestwhen no voltage is applied between the boards 11 a and 11 b. Therefore,the outer appearance may be deteriorated due to the leakage of light.However, even if the light passing through the empty portions 34included in the common electrode connection line portion 30 leakstherefrom, the common electrode connection line portion 30 is lesslikely to be seen by the user as a shadow and the appearance is lesslikely to be deteriorated.

<Second Embodiment>

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 9 to 12. The second embodiment changes in thenumber of drivers 121 and a common electrode connection line portion 130from those of the first embodiment and check lines 42 are additionallydisposed. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of thefirst embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a liquid crystal panel 111 according to thisembodiment has a vertically-long rectangular plan view shape andincludes four drivers 121 in the non-display area. The four drivers 121includes two gate-side drivers 121G and two source-side drivers 121S.The two gate-side drivers 121G are disposed on a long-side edge portionof an array board 111 b to be displaced from the middle thereof and awayfrom each other with a certain distance therebetween in the Y-axisdirection (in the long-side direction of the array board 111 b). The twosource-side drivers 121S are disposed on a short-side edge portion ofthe array board 111 b to be displaced from the middle thereof and awayfrom each other with a certain distance therebetween in the X-axisdirection (in the short-side direction of the array board 111 b). Asillustrated in FIG. 10, a source-side common electrode connection lineportion 130S that is a common electrode connection line portion 130 isdisposed between two adjacent groups of source-side signal lineconnection lines 129S extending from the respective adjacent twosource-side drivers 121S. As illustrated in FIG. 11, a gate-side commonelectrode connection line portion 130G that is the common electrodeconnection line portion 130 is disposed between two adjacent groups ofgate-side signal line connection lines 129G extending from therespective adjacent two gate-side drivers 121G. In this embodiment, thecommon electrode connection line portion 130 is disposed between the twosource-side drivers 121A and between the two gate-side drivers 121G. Thegate-side common electrode connection line portion 130G is in an area ofthe non-display area NAA of the array board 111 b between the twogate-side drivers 121G and has a substantially triangle shape in a planview. Dummy pixels 131 are disposed adjacent to the outermost pixel PXon the edge near the source-side driver 121S. However, the dummy pixels131 are not disposed near the gate-side driver 121G.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12, the source-side common electrodeconnection line portion 130S includes empty portions 134. The emptyportions 134 have slit-shape extending along an extending direction ofsource lines 120 (in the Y-axis direction) that is to be connected tothe source line connection lines 129S. As illustrated in FIG. 11, thegate-side common electrode connection line portion 130G includes theempty portions 134. The empty portions 134 have slit-shape extendingalong an extending direction of gate lines 119 (in the X-axis direction)that is to be connected to the gate line connection lines 129G. Namely,the empty portions 134 extend in a direction perpendicular to anextending direction of a transfer pad 130 a of each common electrodeconnection line portion 130. Further, check lines (a narrow lineportion, a wide line portion, lines, check lines) 42 are disposed in thenon-display area NAA of the array board 111 b to check disconnection ofthe signal line connection lines 129, and the lines 119, 120. The checklines 42 include gate-side check lines 42G for checking the gate lineconnection lines 129G and the gate lines 119 and source-side check lines42S for checking the source line connection lines 129S and the sourcelines 120. In this embodiment, the check lines 42 are made of metal sameas that used for the gate lines 119. Among the signal line connectionlines 129, the common electrode connection lines 130, and the checklines 42, to represent the gate-side common electrode connection lineportion, the gate-side common electrode connection portion, and thegate-side check liens, a letter “G” is affixed to the respectivereference numbers, and to represent the source-side common electrodeconnection line portion, the source-side common electrode connectionportion, and the source-side check liens, a letter “S” is affixed to therespective reference numbers. No letter is affixed to the respectivereference numbers to generally represent the components.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the source-side check lines 42S include firstsource-side check lines 42S1 and second source-side check lines 42S2.The first source-side check lines 42S1 are disposed between thesource-side common electrode connection line portion 130S and the sourceline connection line 129S group. The second source-side check lines 42S2are disposed between ESD protection portion 132 group and a dummy pixel131 group. The ESD protection portions 132 are disposed on a right sideand a left side with respect to the middle of the source-side commonelectrode connection line portion 130S with a certain distancetherebetween. The source-side check line 42S group is disposed betweenthe ESD protection portion 132 group and the dummy pixel 131 group.First relay lines 45 are disposed to cross the source-side check line42S group and relays the ESD protection portions 132 and the dummypixels 131 via the insulation film INS. In this embodiment, the firstrelay lines 45 are made of metal same as that used for the source lines120. Among the source-side check lines 42S, to represent the firstsource-side check lines, a numeral letter “1” is affixed to thereference number thereof, and to represent the second source-side checklines, a numeral letter “2” is affixed to the reference number thereof.No letter is affixed to the reference numbers to generally represent thecomponent.

The first source-side check lines 42S1 includes angled portions 42S1 a,first straight portions 42S1 b, and second straight portions 42S1 c. Theangled portions 42S1 a extend along respective side edge portions of thesource line connection lines 129S and the source-side common electrodeconnection line portion 130S. The first straight portions 42S1 b extendalong the Y-axis direction toward the display area AA between the ESDprotection 132 groups in a middle space of the source-side commonelectrode connection line portion 130S. The second straight portions42S1 c are disposed on an opposite side from the source line connectionline 129 group with respect to the ESD protection 132 group and extendalong a direction in which the ESD protection 132 group extends (in theX-axis direction). The first source-side check lines 42S1 are routed tosurround the ESD protection portion 132 group and the source-side commonelectrode connection line portion 130S. The first source-side checklines 42S1 are parallel to each other and have a certain distancebetween the adjacent first source-side check lines 42S1. The firstsource-side check line 42S1 has a line width smaller than that of eachline in the source-side common electrode connection line portion 130Sand greater than that of each source line connection line 129S.Specifically, the first source-side check line 42S1 has a width of 100μm or greater. Second empty portions 43 are formed between the firstsource-side check lines 42S1 of this embodiment similar to the emptyportions 142 of the source-side common electrode connection line portion130S. Light passes through the second empty portions 43. The secondempty portions 43 are selectively formed between the angled portions42S1 a of the first source-side check lines 42S1, and the angledportions 42S1 a are disposed between the source line connection lines129S and the source-side common electrode connection line portion 130S.The second empty portions 43 are slits extending along the angledportions 42S1 a. A ratio of area of the first source-side check lines42S1 to an area of the second empty portions 43 and a ratio of the areaof the first source-side check lines 42S1 to a total area of the emptyportions between the adjacent first source-side check lines 42S1 areequal to a ratio of a total area of the source line connection lines129S to a total area of the empty portions between the adjacent sourceline connection lines 129S and a ratio of an area of the source-sidecommon electrode connection line portion 130S to a total area of theempty portions 134, respectively. Accordingly, a ratio of the amount ofblocked light to the amount of transmitted light (a light blocking rate)in the first source-side check line 42S1 group is substantially equal toa ratio of the amount of blocked light to the amount of transmittedlight in the source line connection lines 129 and is substantially equalto a ratio of the amount of blocked light to the amount of transmittedlight in the source-side common electrode. Accordingly, even if lightpasses through a light blocking layer 111 i, the portion of the firstsource-side checking lines 42S1 between the source line connection lines129S and the source-side common electrode connection line portion 130Sis less likely to be seen as a shadow. Therefore, a good appearance ofthe liquid crystal display device 110 is maintained. The second straightportions 42S1 c of the first source-side check lines 42S1 includecontact holes (not illustrated) in the insulation film INS and thesecond relay lines 46 are electrically connected thereto.

The second source-side check line 42S2 is disposed between the secondstraight portion 42S1 c of the first source-side check line 42S1 closestto the display area AA and the dummy pixels 131. The second source-sidecheck line 42S2 extends along the second straight portion of the firstsource-side check line 42S1 (in the X-axis direction) and has a linewidth greater than that of the first source-side check line 42S1. CheckTFTs 44 are disposed on the second source-side check line 42S2 forchecking the source line connection lines 129S. In this embodiment, agate electrode of each check TFT 44 corresponds to the secondsource-side check line 42S2 and a source electrode thereof correspondsto an end portion of each second relay line 46, and a drain electrodethereof corresponds to an end portion of each first relay line 45. Oneend portion of the second relay line 46 is connected to the secondstraight portion 42S1 c of the first source-side check line 42S1 throughthe contact hole and another end portion thereof corresponds to thedrain electrode of the check TFT 44. The portion of the second relayline 46 between the two end portions cross the second straight portions42S1 c, which are not to be connected, via the insulation film INS. Inthis embodiment, the second relay lines 45 are made of metal same asthat of the source lines 120. The check TFTs 44 are monolithicallyfabricated on the array board 111 b with using an amorphous-silicon thinfilm as a base material same as that of the TFTs included in the pixelsPX. According to such a configuration, a check signal is input to thefirst source-side check lines 42S1 and gate voltage is applied to thesecond source-side check line 42S2 to switch on the check TFTs 44.Accordingly, the check signals are supplied to the source lineconnection lines 129 via the check TFTs 44. Further, the gate voltage isapplied to the gate lines 119 to switch on the TFTs included in thepixels PX and a reference voltage is applied to the common electrode. Inthe application of voltage, if no disconnection occurs in the sourceline connection lines 129S and the source lines 120, a linear defectiondoes not appear in the display area AA. If any disconnection occurs inthe source line connection lines 129S and the source lines 120, a lineardefection appears in the display area AA. Thus, disconnection of thesource line connection lines 129S and the source lines 120 is checked.As long as the gate voltage is not applied to the second source-sidecheck line 42S2, the check TFTs 44 are not turned on. Therefore, datasignals are supplied to the source line connection lines 129Seffectively in the normal image display.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the gate-side check lines 42G include firstgate-side check lines 42G1 and second gate-side check lines 42G2. Thefirst gate-side check lines 42G1 are disposed between the gate-sidecommon electrode connection line portion 130G and the gate lineconnection line 129G group in the non-display area NAA of the arrayboard 111 b. The second gate-side check lines 42G2 are disposed betweenthe ESD protection portion 132 group and the pixel PX group in thenon-display area NAA of the array board 111 b. The first gate-side checklines 42G1 do not include the second empty portions 43 and otherconfigurations are same as those of the first source-side check lines42S1. The first gate-side check lines 42G1 include angled portion 42G1a, first straight portions 42G1 b, and second straight portions 42G1 b.Each first gate-side check line 42G1 (especially, the angled portion42G1 a) has a line width smaller than that of each first source-sidecheck line 42S1. The number of the first gate-side check lines 42G1 issmaller than that of the first source-side check portions 42S1. Thesecond gate-side check line 42G2 has a configuration same as that of thesecond source-side check line 42S2 and the check TFTs 44 are disposed onand overlap the second gate-side check line 42G2. The first relay lines45 are disposed to cross the second straight portions 42G1 b of thefirst gate-side check lines 42G1 to relay the ESD protection portions132 and the pixels PX. The second relay lines 46 are disposed to crossother second straight portions 42G1 b to relay the second straightportions 42G1 b of the first gate-side check lines 42G1 and the checkTFTs 44. Such configurations are same as those of the source-side checklines 42S and will not be described. Checking of the disconnection ofthe first gate-side check lines 42G1 and the gate lines 119 with usingthe check TFTs 44 is same as the checking of the disconnection of thefirst source-side check lines 42S1 and will not be described. In FIG.12, a cross sectional configuration of the source-side driver of theliquid crystal panel 111 is illustrated, and the gate-side driver hasthe same cross sectional configuration as that of the source-sidedriver.

As is described before, the liquid crystal panel (the display device) 11of this embodiment includes the check lines (the check line portion) 42that are disposed in the non-display area NAA and connected to thesignal line connection lines 129 to check the signal line connectionlines 129. The wide line portion that is relatively wide includes thecheck lines 42 and the check lines 42 includes the second empty portions(the empty portions) 43 that are provided between the check lines 42.According to such a configuration, the second empty portions 43 areformed between the check lines 42 included in the wide line portion, andlight passes through the second empty portions 43 similarly to thesignal line connection lines 129. Accordingly, the check lines 42 areless likely to be seen by a user and good appearance of the liquidcrystal panel 11 is maintained.

<Third Embodiment>

A third embodiment according to the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The second embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in positions of empty portions 234 in a commonelectrode connection line portion 230 and an area where alignment films211 d and 211 e are formed. Structures, functions, and effects similarto those of the first embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the common electrode connection lineportion 230 includes empty portions 234 only in a sealing member overlapportion 238 overlapping a sealing member 211 k in a plan view and thecommon electrode connection line portion 230 is formed in a solidpattern except for the sealing member overlap portion 238. The solidpatterned common electrode connection line portion 230 does not includeany empty portion 234. The common electrode connection line portion 230includes only sealing empty portions 240 for passing light therethroughfor hardening the sealing member 211 k. The common electrode connectionline portion 230 does not include empty portions for obtaining theamount of light passing through the common electrode connection lineportion 230 same as that of light passing through the signal lineconnection line 229 group.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, a pair of alignment films 211 d and211 e is disposed on plate surfaces of a pair of boards 211 a and 211 bopposite a liquid crystal layer 211 c, respectively. The alignment films211 d and 211 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA. In the non-display area NAA, the alignment films211 d and 211 e overlap a dummy pixel portion 231 group and an ESDprotection portion 232 group in a plan view and do not overlap thesignal line connection line 229 portion and the common electrodeconnection line portion 230 in a plan view. Namely, outer edges of thealignment films 211 d and 211 e in the Y-axis direction are between theESD protection portion 232 group and both of the signal line connectionline 229 group and the common electrode connection line portion 230 andthe outer edges extend straight along the X-axis direction. An entirearea of the common electrode connection line portion 230 corresponds toan alignment film non-overlap portion 237 that does not overlap thealignment films 211 d and 211 e. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 14,the non-display area NAA of the boards 211 a and 211 b includes analignment film arrangement area AFA where both of the alignment films211 d and 211 e are disposed and an alignment film non-arrangement areaAFNA were no alignment film 211 d, 211 e is disposed. In the alignmentfilm arrangement area AFA, the liquid crystal molecules included in theliquid crystal layer 211 c are oriented with the anchoring process sothat the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is controlled. Inthe alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA, the liquid crystalmolecules included in the liquid crystal layer 211 c are not orientedwith the anchoring process and the orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules is not controlled. Therefore, the non-display area NAA of theboards 211 a and 211 b is divided into a liquid crystals orientationportion 47 where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystallayer 211 c are oriented and a liquid crystals non-orientation portion48 where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 211 care not oriented. The liquid crystals orientation portion 47 correspondsto a portion overlapping the alignment film arrangement area AFA in aplan view and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 correspondsto a portion overlapping the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA ina plan view. The liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystallayer 211 c are oriented to be twisted at 90° in the liquid crystalsorientation portion 47. Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel 211 ofthe normally white mode, most of rays of light passes through the liquidcrystals orientation portion 47. The orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules included in the liquid crystal layer 211 c is not controlledin the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48. Therefore, the lightfrom the backlight unit is less likely to pass through the liquidcrystals non-orientation portion 48 of the liquid crystal panel 211. Theliquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 overlaps the signal lineconnection line 229 group and the common electrode connection lineportion 230 in a plan view. According to such a configuration, even iflight passes through the empty portions between adjacent signal lineconnection lines 229 in the non-display area of the array board 211 b,the light is less likely to pass through the liquid crystal panel 211.Therefore, the signal line connection lines 229 or the common electrodeconnection line portion 230 are less likely to be seen as a shadow bythe user and a good appearance of the liquid crystal display device 210is maintained.

The alignment films 211 d and 211 e are disposed to extend over thedisplay area AA and the non-display area NAA and therefore, even if thealignment position of each of the alignment films 211 d and 211 e isdisplaced during the manufacturing process, the alignment films 211 dand 211 e are reliably disposed in the display area AA. In thisconfiguration, the alignment films 211 d and 211 e are disposed in thenon-display area NAA and the liquid crystal molecules included in theliquid crystal layer 211 between the alignment films 211 d and 211 e areoriented and this may cause leakage of light. However, the alignmentfilms 211 d and 211 e are disposed to overlap the dummy pixel 231 groupand the ESD protection portion 232 group (a second light blockingportion) in the non-display area NAA. The dummy pixel 231 group and theESD protection portion 232 group are components that block light.According to such a configuration, the light is blocked by the dummypixel 231 group and the ESD protection portion 232 group. Leakage oflight may be less likely to be caused. The alignment films 211 d and 211e are printed on the respective boards 211 a and 211 b with a transferprinting method in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel211. Specifically, with the transfer printing method, an alignment filmmaterial is put on a transfer roller and the alignment film material onthe transfer roller is transferred to the boards 211 a and 211 b to formthe alignment films 211 d and 211 e. With the transfer printing method,the area of forming each alignment film 211 d, 211 e is controlled withhigher accuracy compared to an ink jetting method. Therefore, leakage oflight is less likely to be caused.

As described before, the second liquid crystal panel 211 of thisembodiment includes a pair of the boards 211 a and 211 b, the liquidcrystal layer 211 c, a pair of the liquid crystals orientation portions47, a light blocking layer 211 i, the signal line connection lines (aline portion) 229, and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48.The boards 211 a and 211 b are defined into the display area AA whereimages appear and the non-display area NAA that is outside the displayarea AA. The liquid crystal layer 211 c is sandwiched between the boards211 a and 211 b. The liquid crystals orientation portions 47 aredisposed in the display area AA and on a liquid crystal layer 11 c sideof each of the boards 211 a and 211 b. The liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer 211 c are oriented by the liquidcrystals orientation portions 47. The light blocking layer 211 i isdisposed in at least the non-display area NAA of one of the boards 211 aand 211 b to block light. The signal line connection lines 229 arearranged at intervals in the non-display area NAA of one of the boards211 a and 211 b. The liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 overlapsin a plan view at least the signal line connection lines 229 in thenon-display area NAA of at least one of the boards 211 a and 211 b. Theliquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 is not subjected to theorientation of the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer 211 c.

Thus, a pair of the liquid crystals orientation portions 47 is disposedin the display area AA of the plate surfaces of the boards 211 a and 211b opposite the liquid crystal layer 211 c. Therefore, liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal layer 211 c are appropriately orientedand the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 211 cis controlled by adjusting the voltage applied to the liquid crystallayer 211 c. The light blocking layer 211 i is disposed in thenon-display area NAA of one of the boards 211 a and 211 b. Thenon-display area is outside the display area AA where images appear.Thus, the signal line connection lines 229 disposed in the non-displayarea NAA are less likely to be seen by the user of the liquid crystalpanel 211.

If the light blocking layer 211 i has an insufficient light blockingproperty and the light passes through the light blocking layer 211 i,the light passes through portions between the adjacent signal lineconnection lines that are disposed at intervals and the light leakstherefrom. The signal line connection lines 229 are seen as a shadow bythe user of the liquid crystal panel 211 and the appearance of theliquid crystal panel 211 may be deteriorated. If alight blocking layermade of metal for blocking light to prevent leakage of light, the lightblocking layer may generate parasitic capacitance with the signal lineconnection lines 229. The liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 isdisposed to overlap at least the signal line connection lines 229 in aplan view in the non-display area NAA of one of the boards 211 a and 211b. The liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 is not subjected tothe orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystallayer 211 c. Therefore, even if light passes through the portionsbetween the adjacent signal line connection lines 229, the liquidcrystal molecules are not oriented via the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 48 and the light is less likely to passtherethrough. Accordingly, the leakage of light is less likely to occurand the signal line connection lines 229 are less likely to be seen asthe shadow and the good appearance of the liquid crystal panel 211 ismaintained. Further, the additional light blocking layer made of metalis not necessary to be arranged to prevent leakage of light. Therefore,the parasitic capacitance is less likely to be generated between themetal light blocking layer and the signal line connection lines 229.

The liquid crystal panel 211 includes a pair of alignment films 211 dand 211 e that is disposed on the respective plate surfaces of the baseplates 211 a and 211 b opposite the liquid crystal layer 211 c anddisposed at least in the display area AA. The liquid crystalsorientation portion 47 corresponds to the portions of the alignmentfilms 211 d and 211 e in the display area AA. One of the alignment films211 d and 211 e is selectively disposed in an area of the plate surfaceof one of the boards 211 a and 211 b opposite the liquid crystal layer211. The area of the plate surface does not overlap the signal lineconnection lines 229 in a plan view. Thus, the liquid crystal panel 211includes the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA where no alignmentfilm 211 d, 211 e is disposed and the liquid crystals non-orientationportion 48 corresponds to the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA.Accordingly, the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 48 correspondsto the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA where no alignment film211 d, 211 e is disposed, and light is less likely to pass therethrough.The position of the areas where the alignment films 211 d and 211 e areformed is precisely determined.

The pair of the alignment films 211 d and 211 e extends over the displayarea AA and the non-display area NAA. In the non-display area NAA of atleast one of the boards 211 a and 211 b, the dummy pixel portion 231 andthe ESD protection portion 232 (the second light blocking layer) areformed to overlap the alignment films 211 d and 211 e in a plan view andarranged closer to the display area AA side than the signal lineconnection lines 229. The dummy pixel portion 231 and the ESD protectionportion 232 block light. According to such a configuration, the pair ofthe alignment films 211 d and 211 e extends over the display area AA andthe non-display area NAA. Therefore, even if the arrangement position ofthe alignment films 211 d and 211 e is displaced during themanufacturing process, the alignment films 211 d and 211 e are reliablyarranged in the display area AA. A part of each alignment film 211 d,211 e is disposed in the non-arrangement area NAA, and light passingthrough the light blocking layer 211 i may leak therefrom. The light isblocked by the dummy pixels 231 and the ESD protection portion 232 thatoverlap in a plan view the portions of the alignment films 211 d and 211e in the non-display area NAA and are arranged closer to the displayarea AA side than the signal line connection lines 229. Accordingly, theleakage of light is less likely to occur.

The liquid crystal panel 211 includes the pair of boards 211 a and 211b, the liquid crystal layer 211 c, and the pair of alignment films 211 dand 211 e. Each of the boards 211 a and 211 b is defined into thedisplay area AA and the non-display area NAA. The liquid crystal layer211 c is sandwiched between the boards 211 a and 211 b. The alignmentfilms 211 d and 211 e are disposed on the respective plate surfaces ofthe boards 211 a and 211 b opposite the liquid crystal layer 211 and atleast in the display area AA. The liquid crystal molecules included inthe liquid crystal layer 211 c are oriented by the alignment films 211 dand 211 e. The liquid crystal panel 211 is in a normally white mode inwhich the light transmittance is maximum when no voltage is appliedbetween the boards 211 a and 211 b. In this configuration, in the liquidcrystal panel 211 that is in the normally white mode, the lighttransmittance is maximum when no voltage is applied between the boards211 a and 211 b. Therefore, the appearance may be deteriorated due tothe leakage of light. However, even in the configuration in which lightleaks from the portions between the adjacent signal line connectionlines 229, the signal line connection lines 229 are less likely to beseen as the shadow by the user due to the liquid crystalsnon-arrangement portion 48, and the appearance is less likely to bedeteriorated.

<Fourth Embodiment>

A fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 15 to 17. In the fourth embodiment, an area of acommon electrode connection line portion 330 where empty portions 334are formed and an area where alignment films 311 d and 311 e are formeddiffer from those in the second embodiment. The configurations of thisembodiment have the similar to those of the third embodiment.Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of the second andthird embodiments will not be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, a gate-side common electrodeconnection line portion 330G and a source-side common electrodeconnection line portion 330S included in the common electrode connectionline portion 330 include empty portions 334 only in a sealing memberoverlap portion 338 overlapping a sealing member 311 k in a plan viewand the gate-side common electrode connection line portion 330G and thesource-side common electrode connection line portion 330S are formed ina solid pattern except for the sealing member overlap portion 338. Thesolid patterned common electrode connection line portion 330 does notinclude any empty portion 334. The gate-side common electrode connectionline portion 330G and the source-side common electrode connection lineportion 330S include only sealing empty portions 340 for passing lighttherethrough for curing the sealing member 311 k. The gate-side commonelectrode connection line portion 330G and the source-side commonelectrode connection line portion 330S do not include empty portions forobtaining the amount of light passing through the common electrodeconnection line portions 330G, 330S same as that of light passingthrough a gate line connection line 329G group and a source lineconnection line 329S group.

A pair of alignment films 311 d and 311 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 311 a and 311 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 311c, respectively. The alignment films 311 d and 311 e are arranged toextend over the display area AA and the non-display area NAA. Asillustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17, on a source-side driver side in thenon-display area NAA, the alignment films 311 d and 311 e overlap adummy pixel portion 331 group and an ESD protection portion 332 group ina plan view and do not overlap the source line connection line 329Sgroup and the source-side common electrode connection line portion 330Sin a plan view. Namely, outer edges of the alignment films 311 d and 311e in the Y-axis direction are between the ESD protection portion 332group and both of the source line connection line 329S group and thesource-side common electrode connection line portion 330S and the outeredges extend straight along the X-axis direction. The pair of alignmentfilms 311 d and 311 e overlaps an entire area of a second source-sidecheck line 342S2 in a plan view and overlaps a substantially half areaof first source-side check lines 342S1 in a plan view. Specifically, thepair of alignment films 311 d and 311 e overlaps a substantially halfarea of first straight portions 342S1 b on a second straight portion342S1 c side and an entire area of the second straight portions 342S1 cin a plan view. The pair of alignment films 311 d and 311 e does notoverlap a half area of the first straight portions 342S1 b on an angledportion 342S1 a side and an entire area of the angled portions 342S1 ain a plan view. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the pair of alignmentfilms 311 d and 311 e overlaps in a plan view an ESD protection portion332 group on a gate-side driver side of the non-display area NAA. Thepair of alignment films 311 d and 311 e does not overlap a gate lineconnection line 329G group and a gate-side common electrode connectionline portion 330G in a plan view. Namely, outer edges of the alignmentfilms 311 d and 311 e in the Y-axis direction are between the ESDprotection portion 332 group and both of a gate line connection line329G group and a gate-side common electrode connection line portion 330Gand the outer edges extend straight along the X-axis direction. The pairof alignment films 311 d and 311 e overlaps an entire area of a secondgate-side check line 342G2 in a plan view and overlaps a substantiallyhalf area of first gate-side check lines 342G1 in a plan view.Specifically, the pair of alignment films 311 d and 311 e overlaps asubstantially half area of first straight portions 342G1 b on a secondstraight portion 342G1 c side and an entire area of the second straightportions 342G1 c in a plan view. The pair of alignment films 311 d and311 e does not overlap a half area of the first straight portions 342G1b on an angled portion 342G1 a side and an entire area of the angledportions 342G1 a in a plan view.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the non-display area NAA of theboards 311 a and 311 b includes an alignment film arrangement area AFAwhere both of the alignment films 311 d and 311 e are disposed and analignment film non-arrangement area AFNA where no alignment film 311 d,311 e is disposed. The alignment film arrangement area AFA and thealignment film non-arrangement area AFNA have similar functions as thosein the third embodiment. Therefore, the non-display area NAA of theboards 311 a and 311 b is divided into a liquid crystals orientationportion 347 where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystallayer 311 c are oriented and a liquid crystals non-orientation portion348 where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 311 care not oriented. The liquid crystals orientation portion 347 and theliquid crystals non-orientation portion 348 have similar functions asthose in the third embodiment. The liquid crystals non-orientationportion 348 overlaps the signal line connection line 329 group, thecommon electrode connection line portion 330, and a substantially halfof the first check lines 342G1, 342S1 (specifically, the angled portions342G1 a, 342S1 a) in a plan view. According to such a configuration,even if light passes through the empty portions between adjacent signalline connection lines 329 in the non-display area of the array board 311b, the light is less likely to pass through the liquid crystal panel311. Therefore, the signal line connection lines 329, the commonelectrode connection line portion 330, and the angled portions 342G1 a,342S1 a of the first check lines 32G1, 342S1 are less likely to be seenas a shadow by the user and a good appearance of the liquid crystaldisplay device 210 is maintained. The cross-sectional configuration ofthe liquid crystal panel 311 on the source-side river side isillustrated in FIG. 17, and the cross-sectional configuration of thegate-side driver side is similar to that in FIG. 17.

<Fifth Embodiment>

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 18. In the fifth embodiment, an area where alignmentfilms 411 d and 411 e are formed and an area of the alignment film thatis subjected to the orientation process differ from those in the thirdembodiment. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of thethird embodiment will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 411 a and 411 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 411c, respectively. The pair of boards 411 a and 411 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 411 of this embodiment. The alignment films 411 dand 411 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the alignment films 411d and 411 e are formed in a solid pattern in a substantially entire areaof the non-display area NAA except for a connection portion between atransfer pad portion 430 a and a common electrode 411 j and a portionhaving a sealing member 411 k, similarly to the first embodiment. Unlikethe third embodiment, the pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 eincludes a rubbing processed portion (an orientation portion) AP and arubbing non-processed portion (a non-orientation portion) ANP. Therubbing processed portion AP is subjected to rubbing process(orientation process) and the rubbing non-processed portion ANP is notsubjected to the rubbing process. The rubbing-processed portion AP ofthe pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e overlaps a dummy pixelportion group (not illustrated) and an ESD protection portion 432 groupin a plan view and the rubbing non-processed portion ANP overlaps asignal line connection line 429 group and a common electrode connectionline portion 430 in a plan view. Namely, a border between therubbing-processed portion AP and the rubbing non-processed portion ANPis between the ESD protection portion 432 group and both of the signalline connection line 429 group and the common electrode connection lineportion 430 and the border extends straight along the X-axis direction.The rubbing-processed portion AP and the rubbing non-processed portionANP are formed in the above area as follows. In the rubbing process forthe alignment films 411 e and 411 e during the manufacturing process,the rubbing non-processed portion ANP of each of the alignment films 411d and 411 e is covered with a masking member such as a metal material sothat the rubbing-processed portion AP is uncovered by the maskingmember. Then, the alignment films 411 d and 411 e and the masking memberare rubbed with a cloth so that only the rubbing-processed portion APuncovered with the masking member is subjected to the rubbing processand the rubbing non-processed portion ANP covered with the maskingmember is not subjected to the rubbing process. Since therubbing-processed portion AP is subjected to the rubbing process asdescribed before, liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer 411 c are processed with anchoring and the orientation ofthe liquid crystal molecules can be controlled in the rubbing-processedportion AP. The liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystallayer 411 c are not processed with anchoring and the orientation of theliquid crystal molecules is not controlled in the rubbing non-processedportion ANP. Therefore, the non-display area NAA of the pair of boards411 a and 411 b is divided into a liquid crystals orientation portion447 where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 411 care oriented and a liquid crystals non-orientation portion 448 where theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 411 c are notoriented. The liquid crystals orientation portion 447 overlaps therubbing-processed portion AP in a plan view and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 448 overlaps the rubbing non-processed portionANP in a plan view. The liquid crystals orientation portion 447 and theliquid crystals non-orientation portion 448 have similar functions asthose in the third embodiment. The alignment films 411 d and 411 e ofthis embodiment have a same plan view area of the rubbing-processedportion AP and a same plan view area of the rubbing non-processedportion ANP. Therefore, the masking member used for the rubbing processis commonly used and a manufacturing cost is reduced.

The pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e is printed on the pair ofboards 411 a and 411 b with an ink jet method in the manufacturingprocess of the liquid crystal panel 411. Specifically, in the ink jetmethod, liquid drops of an alignment film material are ejected from inkjet nozzles toward the boards 411 a and 411 b to form the alignmentfilms 411 d and 411 e. With the ink jet method, takt time is shortenedand a manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the transfer printingmethod. However, with the ink jet method, the position accuracy offorming area of each alignment film 411 d, 4113 is relatively decreasedcompared to the transfer printing method. With the rubbing process,accuracy of the forming area of the rubbing-processed portion AP (theforming area of the rubbing non-processed portion ANP) is easilyincreased. Accordingly, the similar functions and effects as those inthe third embodiment are obtained.

As described before, according to this embodiment, the liquid crystalpanel includes the pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e that isdisposed on the plate surfaces of the pair of boards 411 a and 411 bopposite the liquid crystal layer 411 c, respectively. Portions of thepair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e in the display area AAcorrespond to the rubbing processed portion (the orientation portion) APthat is subjected to the rubbing process and a portion of one of thealignment films 411 d and 411 e that is in the non-display area andoverlaps at least the signal line connection lines 429 in a plan viewcorresponds to the rubbing non-processed portion (the non-orientationportion) ANP that is not subjected to the rubbing process. The liquidcrystals orientation portion 447 corresponds to the rubbing processedportion AP and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 448corresponds to the rubbing non-processed portion ANP. Accordingly, thepair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e extends over the display area AAand non-display area NAA. Therefore, even if the positions of thealignment films 411 d, 411 e are displaced during the manufacturingprocess, the alignment films 411 d and 411 e are reliably disposed inthe display area AA. The liquid crystals orientation portion 447corresponds to the rubbing processed portion AP that is a portion of thepair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e that are subjected to theorientation process, and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 448corresponds to the rubbing non-processed portion ANP that is a portionof one of the pair of alignment films 411 e and 411 e that is notsubjected to the orientation process. In this configuration, theaccuracy of the forming area of the alignment films 411 d and 411 e maynot be ensured. Even if the accuracy of the position of the forming areaof the alignment films 411 e and 411 e is low, the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 448 is reliably arranged and this reduces acost.

The pair of alignment films 411 d and 411 e is disposed in same planview areas of the boards 411 a and 411 b and the liquid non-orientationportion 448 is included in each of the boards 411 a and 411 b.Accordingly, since the liquid crystals non-arrangement portion 448 isdisposed on each of the boards 411 a and 411 b, the light passingthrough portions between the adjacent signal line connection lines 429is reliably prevented from leaking therefrom. Therefore, the signal lineconnection lines 429 are further less likely to be seen as the shadowand good appearance of the liquid crystal panel 411 is effectivelymaintained. Further, the alignment films 411 d and 411 e have the sameplan view forming areas on the boards 411 a and 411 b. Therefore, thealignment film printing plate is commonly used for patterning thealignment films 411 d and 411 e during the manufacturing process and amanufacturing cost is reduced.

<Sixth Embodiment>

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 19. In the sixth embodiment, an area where alignmentfilms 511 d and 511 e are formed and an area of the alignment film thatis subjected to the orientation process differ from those in the fifthembodiment. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of thefourth and fifth embodiments will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 511 d and 511 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 511 a and 511 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 511c, respectively. The pair of boards 511 a and 511 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 511 of this embodiment. The alignment films 511 dand 511 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the alignment films 511d and 511 e are formed in a solid pattern in a substantially entire areaof the non-display area NAA except for a connection portion between atransfer pad portion 530 a and a common electrode 511 j and a portionhaving a sealing member 511 k, similarly to the second embodiment. Thealignment films 511 d and 511 e differ from those in the fourthembodiment in that they include a rubbing-processed portion (anorientation processed portion) AP that is subjected to the rubbingprocess (an orientation processed portion) and a rubbing non-processedportion (an orientation non-processed portion) ANP that is not subjectedto the rubbing process. The rubbing-processed portion AP of the pair ofalignment films 511 d and 511 e overlap a dummy pixel portion group (notillustrated) and an ESD protection portion group (not illustrated) on asource-side driver side in a plan view and overlaps the ESD protectionportion group (not illustrated) on a gate-side driver side in a planview. The rubbing non-processed portion ANP overlaps a signal lineconnection line group (not illustrated), a common electrode connectionline portion 530, and approximately half of the first check lines 542S1(542G1) in a plan view. Namely, a border between the rubbing-processedportion AP and the rubbing non-processed portion ANP is between the ESDprotection portion group and both of the signal line connection linegroup and the common electrode connection line portion 530 and theborder extends straight along the X-axis direction. Therubbing-processed portion AP and the rubbing non-processed portion ANPhave similar functions as those in the fifth embodiment and the methodof forming the portions are similar to those in the fifth embodiment.The non-display area NAA of the boards 511 a and 511 b is divided into aliquid crystals orientation portion 547 where the liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal layer 511 c are oriented and a liquidcrystals non-orientation portion 548 where the liquid crystal moleculesin the liquid crystal layer 511 c are not oriented. The liquid crystalsorientation portion 547 overlaps the rubbing-processed portion AP in aplan view and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 548 overlapsthe rubbing non-processed portion ANP. The liquid crystals orientationportion 547 and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 548 havesimilar functions as those in the third embodiment.

<Seventh Embodiment>

A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 20. In the seventh embodiment, the configuration ofthe first embodiment in that a common electrode connection line portion630 includes empty portions 634 is combined with the configuration ofthe third embodiment relating a forming area of alignment films 611 dand 611 e. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of thefirst and third embodiments will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 611 d and 611 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 611 a and 611 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 611c, respectively. The pair of boards 611 a and 611 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 611 of this embodiment. The alignment films 611 dand 611 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA as illustrated in FIG. 20. In the non-display areaNAA, the alignment films 611 d and 611 e overlap a dummy pixel portiongroup (not illustrated) and an ESD protection portion 632 group in aplan view and do not overlap a signal line connection line group (notillustrated) and a common electrode connection line portion 630 in aplan view. Namely, outer edges of the alignment films 611 d and 611 e inthe Y-axis direction are between the ESD protection portion 632 groupand both of the signal line connection line group and the commonelectrode connection line portion 630 and the outer edges extendstraight along the X-axis direction. An entire area of the commonelectrode connection line portion 630 corresponds to an alignment filmnon-overlap portion 637 that does not overlap the alignment films 611 dand 611 e. Accordingly, the non-display area NAA of the boards 611 a and611 b includes an alignment film arrangement area AFA where both of thealignment films 611 d and 611 e are disposed and an alignment filmnon-arrangement area AFNA were no alignment film 611 d, 611 e isdisposed. The alignment film arrangement area AFA and the alignment filmnon-arrangement area AFNA have similar functions as those in the thirdembodiment. The non-display area NAA of the boards 611 a and 611 b isdivided into a liquid crystals orientation portion 647 where the liquidcrystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 611 c are oriented and aliquid crystals non-orientation portion 648 where the liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal layer 611 c are not oriented. The liquidcrystals orientation portion 647 corresponds to a portion overlappingthe alignment film arrangement area AFA in a plan view and the liquidcrystals non-orientation portion 648 corresponds to a portionoverlapping the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA in a plan view.The liquid crystals orientation portion 647 and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 648 have similar functions as those in the thirdembodiment.

The common electrode connection line portion 630 includes empty portions634. The empty portions 634 are formed in a substantially entire area ofthe common electrode connection line portion 630 except for the transferpad portion 630 a that is a connection portion to be connected to acommon electrode 611 j. Namely, the common electrode connection lineportion 630 includes the empty portions 634 on a display area AA sidewith respect to the transfer pad portion 630 a having a plan viewbelt-like shape, and the empty portions 634 are adjacent to the signalline connection line group (not illustrated). Even if a small amount oflight passes through the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 648,the light passes through the empty portions 634 similarly to the emptyportions between the adjacent signal line connection lines. Accordingly,even if a small amount of light passes through the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 648, the signal line connection line group andthe common electrode connection line portion 630 are seen by the user ofthe liquid crystal display device 610 with similar brightness and goodappearance of the liquid crystal display device 610 is maintained. Planview shapes of the empty portions 634 are similar to those in the firstembodiment.

As described before, the first liquid crystal panel 611 of thisembodiment includes a pair of the boards 611 a and 611 b, the liquidcrystal layer 611 c, the pair of alignment films 611 d, 611 e, and thepair of liquid crystals non-orientation portions 647. The boards 611 aand 611 b are defined into the display area AA and the non-display areaNAA. The liquid crystal layer 611 c is sandwiched between the boards 611a and 611 b. The pair of alignment films 611 d and 611 e is disposed onplate surfaces of the respective boards 611 a and 611 b opposite theliquid crystal layer 611 c and extends over the display area AA andnon-display area NAA. The pair of alignment films 611 d and 611 e isconfigured to orient the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer 611 c. The liquid crystals non-orientation portion 648overlaps in a plan view the signal line connection lines and the commonelectrode connection line portion 630 in the non-display area NAA of atleast one of the boards 611 a and 611 b. The liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer 611 c are not oriented due to theliquid crystals non-orientation portion 648. According to such aconfiguration, even if light passes through a light blocking layer 611i, portions between adjacent signal line connection lines, and the emptyportions 634 of the common electrode connection line portion 630, theliquid crystal molecules are not oriented due to the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 648 so that the light is less likely to passtherethrough. Accordingly, leakage of light is less likely to be causedand the good appearance of the liquid crystal panel 611 is maintained.

The second liquid crystal panel 611 of this embodiment includes thecommon electrode connection line portion (a wide line portion) 630 thatis disposed in the non-display area NAA of one of the boards 611 a and611 b and has a line width greater than that of the signal lineconnection line and partially includes the empty portions 634. If thecommon electrode connection line portion has no empty portions 634 andis formed in a solid pattern, the light is less likely to pass throughthe common electrode connection line portion and the amount of lightpassing through the common electrode connection line portion and that oflight passing through the signal line connection lines greatly differfrom each other. As a result, the common electrode connection lineportion is likely to be seen as a shadow by the user of the liquidcrystal panel 611 and this may deteriorate the appearance of the liquidcrystal panel 611. In this embodiment, the common electrode connectionline portion 630 partially includes empty portions 634 and the lightpasses through the empty portions 634 of the common electrode connectionline portion 630 similarly to the signal line connection lines 629.Accordingly, it is less likely to occur that the common electrodeconnection line portion 630 is seen as a shadow by the user of theliquid crystal panel 611 and the good appearance of the liquid crystalpanel 611 is maintained.

<Eighth Embodiment>

An eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 21. In the eighth embodiment, the configuration of thesecond embodiment in that a common electrode connection line portion 730includes empty portions 734 is combined with the configuration of thefourth embodiment relating a forming area of alignment films 711 d and711 e. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of the secondand fourth embodiments will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 711 d and 711 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 711 a and 711 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 711c, respectively. The pair of boards 711 a and 711 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 711 of this embodiment. The alignment films 711 dand 711 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA as illustrated in FIG. 21. In the non-display areaNAA, the alignment films 711 d and 711 e overlap a dummy pixel portiongroup (not illustrated) and an ESD protection portion group (notillustrated) in a plan view and overlap the ESD protection portion group(not illustrated) on a gate-side driver side in a plan view. Thealignment films 711 d and 711 e do not overlap the signal lineconnection line group (not illustrated), the common electrode connectionline portion 730, and approximately a half of first check lines 742S1(742G1) on the source-side driver side and the gate-side driver side ina plan view. Namely, outer edges of the alignment films 711 d and 711 ein the Y-axis direction are between the ESD protection portion group andboth of the signal line connection line group and the common electrodeconnection line portion 730 and the outer edges extend straight alongthe X-axis direction. Therefore, an entire area of the common electrodeconnection line portion 730 corresponds to an alignment film non-overlapportion 737. Accordingly, the non-display area NAA of the pair of boards711 a and 711 b includes an alignment film arrangement area AFA whereboth of the alignment films 711 d and 711 e are disposed and analignment film non-arrangement area AFNA where no alignment film 711 d,711 e is disposed. The alignment film arrangement area AFA and thealignment film non-arrangement area AFNA have similar functions as thosein the third embodiment. The non-display area NAA of the boards 711 aand 711 b is divided into a liquid crystals orientation portion 747where the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 711 c areoriented and a liquid crystals non-orientation portion 748 where theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 711 c are notoriented. The liquid crystals orientation portion 747 corresponds to aportion overlapping the alignment film arrangement area AFA in a planview and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 748 corresponds toa portion overlapping the alignment film non-arrangement area AFNA in aplan view. The liquid crystals orientation portion 747 and the liquidcrystals non-orientation portion 748 have similar functions as those inthe third embodiment.

The common electrode connection line portion 730 partially includesempty portions 734. The empty portions 734 are formed in a substantiallyentire area of the common electrode connection line portion 730 exceptfor a transfer pad portion 730 a that is a connection portion to beconnected to a common electrode 711 j. Namely, the common electrodeconnection line portion 730 includes the empty portions 734 on a displayarea AA side with respect to the transfer pad portion 730 a having aplan view belt-like shape, and the empty portions 734 are adjacent toangled portions (not illustrated) of first source-side check lines 742S1(see FIG. 10). Therefore, even if a small amount of light passes throughthe liquid crystals non-orientation portion 748, the light passesthrough the empty portions 734 similarly to the empty portions betweenthe adjacent signal line connection lines and the empty portion betweenthe adjacent angled portions. Angled portion of the first-side checklines 742S1 includes second empty portions, which are not illustrated,and the light passing through the liquid crystals non-orientationportion 748 passes the second empty portions. Accordingly, even if asmall amount of light passes through the liquid crystals non-orientationportion 748, all of the signal line connection line group, the commonelectrode connection line portion 730, and the angled portion group ofthe first source-side check line 742S1 are seen by the user of theliquid crystal display device 710 with similar brightness, and goodappearance of the liquid crystal display device 710 is maintained. Planview shapes of the empty portions 734 and the second empty portions aresimilar to those in the second embodiment.

<Ninth Embodiment>

A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 22. In the ninth embodiment, the configuration of thefirst embodiment in that a common electrode connection line portion 830includes empty portions 834 is combined with the configuration of thefifth embodiment regarding an orientation-processed area where alignmentfilms 811 d and 811 e are subjected to the orientation process.Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of the first andfifth embodiments will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 811 d and 811 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 811 a and 811 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 811c, respectively. The pair of boards 811 a and 811 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 811 of this embodiment. The alignment films 811 dand 811 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the alignment films 811d and 811 e are formed in a solid state on a substantially entire areaof the non-display area NAA except for a connection portion between thea transfer pad portion 830 a of the common electrode connection lineportion 830 and the portion having the sealing member 811 k. Thealignment films 811 d and 811 e include a rubbing-processed portion (anorientation processed portion) AP that is subjected to the rubbingprocess (an orientation processed portion) and a rubbing non-processedportion (an orientation non-processed portion) ANP that is not subjectedto the rubbing process. Forming areas, the forming method, and functionsof the rubbing-processed portion AP and the rubbing non-processedportion ANP are similar to those in the fifth embodiment. Thenon-display area NAA of the boards 811 a and 811 b is divided into aliquid crystals orientation portion 847 where the liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal layer 811 c are oriented and a liquidcrystals non-orientation portion 848 where the liquid crystal moleculesin the liquid crystal layer 811 c are not oriented. The liquid crystalsorientation portion 847 corresponds to a portion overlapping therubbing-processed portion AP in a plan view and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 848 corresponds to a portion overlapping therubbing non-processed portion ANP in a plan view. The liquid crystalsorientation portion 847 and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion848 have similar functions as those in the third embodiment.

The common electrode connection line portion 830 partially includesempty portions 834. The empty portions 834 are formed in a substantiallyentire area of the common electrode connection line portion 830 exceptfor a transfer pad portion 830 a that is a connection portion to beconnected to a common electrode 811 j. Namely, the common electrodeconnection line portion 830 includes the empty portions 834 on a displayarea AA side with respect to the transfer pad portion 830 a having aplan view belt-like shape, and the empty portions 834 are adjacent tosignal line connection line group (not illustrated). Therefore, even ifa small amount of light passes through the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 848, the light passes through the empty portions834 similarly to the empty portions between the adjacent signal lineconnection lines. Accordingly, even if a small amount of light passesthrough the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 848, both of thesignal line connection line group and the common electrode connectionline portion 830 are seen by the user of the liquid crystal displaydevice 810 with similar brightness, and good appearance of the liquidcrystal display device 810 is maintained. Plan view shapes of the emptyportions 834 are similar to those in the first embodiment.

<Tenth Embodiment>

A tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 23. In the tenth embodiment, the configuration of thesecond embodiment in that a common electrode connection line portion 930includes empty portions 934 is combined with the configuration of thesixth embodiment regarding an orientation-processed area where alignmentfilms 911 d and 911 e are subjected to the orientation process.Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of the second andsixth embodiments will not be described.

A pair of alignment films 911 d and 911 e is disposed on plate surfacesof a pair of boards 911 a and 911 b opposite a liquid crystal layer 911c, respectively. The pair of boards 911 a and 911 b is included in aliquid crystal panel 911 of this embodiment. The alignment films 911 dand 911 e are arranged to extend over the display area AA and thenon-display area NAA. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the alignment films 911d and 911 e are formed in a solid pattern on a substantially entire areaof the non-display area NAA except for a connection portion between thea transfer pad portion 930 a of the common electrode connection lineportion 930 and the portion having the sealing member 911 k similar tothe second embodiment. The alignment films 911 d and 911 e include arubbing-processed portion (an orientation processed portion) AP that issubjected to the rubbing process (an orientation processed portion) anda rubbing non-processed portion (an orientation non-processed portion)ANP that is not subjected to the rubbing process. Forming areas, theforming method, and functions of the rubbing-processed portion AP andthe rubbing non-processed portion ANP are similar to those in the sixthembodiment. The non-display area NAA of the boards 911 a and 911 b isdivided into a liquid crystals orientation portion 947 where the liquidcrystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 911 c are oriented and aliquid crystals non-orientation portion 948 where the liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal layer 911 c are not oriented. The liquidcrystals orientation portion 947 corresponds to a portion overlappingthe rubbing-processed portion AP in a plan view and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion 948 corresponds to a portion overlapping therubbing non-processed portion ANP in a plan view. The liquid crystalsorientation portion 947 and the liquid crystals non-orientation portion948 have similar functions as those in the third embodiment.

The common electrode connection line portion 930 partially includesempty portions 934. The empty portions 934 are formed in a substantiallyentire area of the common electrode connection line portion 930 exceptfor a transfer pad portion 930 a that is a connection portion to beconnected to a common electrode 911 j. Namely, the common electrodeconnection line portion 930 includes the empty portions 934 on a displayarea AA side with respect to the transfer pad portion 930 a having aplan view belt-like shape, and the empty portions 834 are adjacent toangled portions (not illustrated) of first source-side check lines 942S1(see FIG. 10). Therefore, even if a small amount of light passes throughthe liquid crystals non-orientation portion 948, the light passesthrough the empty portions 934 similarly to the empty portions betweenthe adjacent signal line connection lines and empty portion betweenadjacent angled portions. Angled portion of the first-side check lines942S1 includes second empty portions, which are not illustrated, and thelight passing through the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 948passes the second empty portions. Accordingly, even if a small amount oflight passes through the liquid crystals non-orientation portion 948,all of the signal line connection line group, the common electrodeconnection line portion 930, and the angled portion group of the firstsource-side check line 942S1 are easily seen by the user of the liquidcrystal display device 910 with a same level, and good appearance of theliquid crystal display device 910 is maintained. Plan view shapes of theempty portions 934 and the second empty portions are similar to those inthe second embodiment.

<Eleventh Embodiment>

An eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 24. In the eleventh embodiment, unlike the firstembodiment, a common electrode connection line portion 1030 includesdivided common electrode connection lines 1035 and short-circuitportions 49. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those of thefirst embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the common electrode connection line portion1030 partially include empty portions 1034 and is defined into aplurality of divided common electrode connection lines 1035. Adjacentdivided common electrode connection lines 1035 are short-circuited bythe short-circuit portions 49. The short-circuit portions 49 extendalong a direction crossing an extending direction of the divided commonelectrode portion 1035. Specifically, some of the short-circuit portions49 extend in the Y-axis direction and short-circuit the divided commonelectrode connection line portions 1035 that are adjacent to each otherin the Y-axis direction, and some of the short-circuit portions 49extend in the X-axis direction and short-circuit the divided commonelectrode connection lines 1035 that are adjacent to each other in theX-axis direction. The two kinds of short-circuit portions 49 aredisposed at intervals. Each of the divided common electrode connectionlines 1035 is connected to the short-circuit portions 49 at severalportions thereof with respect to the extending direction thereof atintervals. According to such a configuration, if any one of the dividedcommon electrode connection lines 1035 is disconnected, two sideportions sandwiching the disconnected portion are connected(short-circuited) to the adjacent divided common electrode connectionlines 1035 via the short-circuit portions 49 so that the divided commonelectrode connection line 1035 having the disconnected portion keepselectric potential same as that of the adjacent divided common electrodeconnection lines 1035. Further, the common electrode connection lineportion 1030 increases an area thereof by an area of the short-circuitportions 49 and therefore line resistance is reduced.

As described before, the common electrode connection line portion 1030includes the short-circuit portions 49 that short-circuit the adjacentdivided common electrode connection lines 1035. According to such aconfiguration, the adjacent divided common electrode connection lines1035 are short-circuited by the short-circuit portion 49. Therefore,even if anyone of the divided common electrode connection lines 1035 isdisconnected, the divided common electrode connection line 1035 havingthe disconnection is electrically connected to the adjacent dividedcommon electrode connection lines 1035 via the short-circuit portions49. Further, line resistance of the common electrode connection lineportion 1030 is reduced.

<Twelfth Embodiment>

A twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 25. In the twelfth embodiment, unlike the secondembodiment, a common electrode connection line portion 1130 includesdivided common electrode connection lines 1135 and short-circuitportions 1149. Structures, functions, and effects similar to those ofthe second embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the common electrode connection line portion1130 partially include empty portions 1134 and is defined into aplurality of divided common electrode connection lines 1135. Adjacentdivided common electrode connection lines 1135 are short-circuited bythe short-circuit portions 1149. The short-circuit portions 1149 extendalong a direction crossing an extending direction of the divided commonelectrode connection lines 1135 and empty portions 1134 (an arrangementdirection in which the divided common electrode connection lines 1135and the empty portions 1134 are arranged). Thus, the short-circuitportions 1149 are connected to the divided common electrode connectionline 1135 that crosses the short-circuit portions 1149. Theshort-circuit portions 1149 are disposed at intervals in the extendingdirection of the divided common electrode connection lines 1135 and theempty portions 1134. Each of the divided common electrode connectionlines 1135 is connected to the short-circuit portions 1149 at severalportions thereof with respect to the extending direction at intervals.According to such a configuration, if any one of the divided commonelectrode connection lines 1035 is disconnected, two side portionssandwiching the disconnected portion are connected (short-circuited) tothe adjacent divided common electrode connection lines 1135 via theshort-circuit portions 1149 so that the divided common electrodeconnection line 1135 having the disconnected portion keeps electricpotential same as that of the adjacent divided common electrodeconnection lines 1135. Further, the common electrode connection lineportion 1130 increases an area thereof by an area of the short-circuitportions 1149 and therefore line resistance is reduced. Although onlysource-side common electrode connection line portion 1130S isillustrated in FIG. 25, a gate-side common electrode connection lineportion also include the short-circuit portions 1149.

<Thirteenth Embodiment>

A thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 26. In the thirteenth embodiment, a common electrodeconnection line portion 1230 includes empty portions 1234 and the emptyportions 1234 have a plan view shape that differs from that of thesecond embodiment. Structures, functions, and effects similar to thoseof the second embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the common electrode connection line portion1230 of this embodiment includes empty portions 1234 extending along anextending direction in which a transfer pad portion 1230 a extends.Namely, the empty portions 1234 of this embodiment have a plan viewshape extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending directionof the empty portions 34 of the second embodiment. Although only thesource-side common electrode connection line portion 1230S isillustrated in FIG. 26, a gate-side common electrode connection lineportion includes similar empty portions 1234.

<Fourteenth Embodiment>

A fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 27. In the fourteenth embodiment, unlike thethirteenth embodiment, a common electrode connection line portion 1330includes divided common electrode connection lines 1335 andshort-circuit portions 1349. Namely, the configuration of the fourteenthembodiment is similar to that of the twelfth embodiment. Structures,functions, and effects similar to those of the twelfth and thirteenthembodiments will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, the common electrode connection line portion1330 partially include empty portions 1334 and is defined into aplurality of divided common electrode connection lines 1335. Adjacentdivided common electrode connection lines 1335 are short-circuited bythe short-circuit portions 1349. The short-circuit portions 1349 extendalong a direction crossing an extending direction of the divided commonelectrode connection lines 1335 and empty portions 1134, that is, alonga direction crossing an extending direction of the transfer pad portion1330 a (the extending direction of the transfer pad portion 1330 amatches an arrangement direction in which the divided common electrodeconnection lines 1335 and the empty portions 1334 are arranged). Thus,the short-circuit portions 1349 are connected to the divided commonelectrode connection line 1335 that crosses the short-circuit portions1349. The short-circuit portions 1349 are disposed at intervals in theextending direction of the divided common electrode connection lines1335 and the empty portions 1334. Each of the divided common electrodeconnection lines 1335 is connected to the short-circuit portions 1349 atseveral points in the extending direction thereof. The functions of theshort-circuit portions 1349 are similar to those in the twelfthembodiment. Although only source-side common electrode connection lineportion 1330S is illustrated in FIG. 27, a gate-side common electrodeconnection line portion also include the short-circuit portions 1349.

<Fifteenth Embodiment>

A fifteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 28. A configuration of the fifteenth embodimentincludes a parallax barrier panel 50 in addition to the configuration ofthe first embodiment. Structures, functions, and effects similar tothose of the first embodiment will not be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, a liquid crystal display device 1410 of thisembodiment includes the parallax barrier panel 50. The parallax barrierpanel 50 is arranged (sandwiched) between a liquid crystal panel 1411and a backlight unit 1414. The parallax barrier panel 50 is layered onan optical sheet 1425 included in the backlight unit 1414 and fixed to arear-side surface of the liquid crystal panel 1411 via an adhesivemember 51. The adhesive member 51 is similar to an adhesive member 28that fixes the liquid crystal panel 1411 and a touch panel 1415. Theparallax barrier panel 50 includes a pair of transparent (havingtransmissive properties) glass boards 50 a and 50 b and a liquid crystallayer (not illustrated). The liquid crystal layer is disposed betweenthe boards 50 a and 50 b and includes liquid crystal molecules thatchange optical properties thereof according to application of anelectric field. The boards 50 a and 50 b are bonded together via asealing member (not illustrated) with keeping a gap of a thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer therebetween. Namely, the parallax barrierpanel 50 is a liquid crystal panel. The parallax barrier panel 50 has ascreen size that is substantially same as that of the liquid crystalpanel 1411. A polarizing plate 50 c is attached to the board 50 b on anouter surface side thereof. An LED board 1423 where LEDs 1422 aremounted is attached to a rear-side surface of the parallax barrier panel50. A barrier portion (not illustrated) is formed in the parallaxbarrier panel 50 by controlling the orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules and the light transmittance according to the voltage appliedto the liquid crystal layer. Accordingly, an image appearing on theliquid crystal panel 1411 via the pixels (not illustrated) is separatedby the parallax so that a viewer (a user) can see the image. A liquidcrystal display device 1410 of this embodiment is used for in-vehicleterminals. Therefore, users may be in a driver's seat and a passenger'sseat and the liquid crystal display device 1410 may be disposed betweenthe driver's seat and the passenger's seat. In such a case, an image fora driver's seat and an image for a passenger's seat appear on a displaysurface of the liquid crystal panel 1411 and the light transmittance ofthe liquid crystal layer of the parallax barrier panel 50 is controlledto form a barrier portion so that the user in the driver's seat seesonly the image for a driver's seat and the user in the passenger's seatsees only the image for a passenger's seat. The liquid crystal displaydevice 1410 including the parallax barrier panel 50 has a multi-view(dual view) function that enables viewers having two different visualangles to see different images.

<Other Embodiment>

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments describedwith reference to the drawings. The following embodiments may beincluded in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the empty portion formed in the common electrodeconnection line portion has a width dimension same as that of eachdivided common electrode connection line. However, the width dimensionof the empty portion may differ from that of each divided commonelectrode connection line, that is, the width dimension of the emptyportion may be greater than that of each divided common electrodeconnection line or the width dimension of the empty portion may besmaller than that of each divided common electrode connection line. Insuch a configuration, the width dimension of the empty portion ispreferably ⅓ of the width dimension of each divided common electrodeconnection line or greater than ⅓ thereof. The empty portions in thecommon electrode connection line portion may have two or more variationsin the width dimension thereof or the divided common electrodeconnection lines may have two or more variations in the width dimensionthereof.

(2) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the width dimension of each signal line connection line(the source line connection line, the gate line connection line) isequal to an interval between the adjacent signal line connection lines(the source line connection lines, the gate line connection lines).However, the width dimension of each signal line connection line (thesource line connection line, the gate line connection line) may differfrom the interval between the adjacent signal line connection lines (thesource line connection lines, the gate line connection lines), that is,the width dimension of the empty portion may be greater than the widthdimension of each divided common electrode connection line or the widthdimension of each signal line connection line (the source lineconnection line, the gate line connection line) may be smaller than theinterval between the adjacent signal line connection lines (the sourceline connection lines, the gate line connection lines). The signal lineconnection line (the source line connection line, the gate lineconnection line) may have two or more variations in the width dimensionthereof or the adjacent signal line connection lines (the source lineconnection lines, the gate line connection lines) may have two or morevariations in the interval therebetween.

(3) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the empty portion formed in the common electrodeconnection line portion has a width dimension same as that of eachsignal line connection line (the source line connection line, the gateline connection line). However, the width dimension of the empty portionin the common electrode connection line portion may differ from that ofeach signal line connection line (the source line connection line, thegate line connection line), that is, the width dimension of the emptyportion may be greater than that of each signal line connection line(the source line connection line, the gate line connection line) or thewidth dimension of the empty portion may be smaller than that of eachsignal line connection line (the source line connection line, the gateline connection line). In such a configuration, the width dimension ofthe empty portion is preferably ⅓ of the width dimension of each signalline connection line (the source line connection line, the gate lineconnection line) or greater than ⅓ thereof.

(4) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), a width dimension of each divided common electrodeconnection line is equal to a width dimension of each signal lineconnection line (the source line connection line, the gate lineconnection line). However, the width dimension of the divided commonelectrode connection line may differ from that of each signal lineconnection line (the source line connection line, the gate lineconnection line), that is, the width dimension of the divided commonelectrode connection line may be greater than that of each signal lineconnection line (the source line connection line, the gate lineconnection line) or the width dimension of the divided common electrodeconnection line may be smaller than that of each signal line connectionline (the source line connection line, the gate line connection line).

(5) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the width dimension of the empty portion formed in thecommon electrode connection line portion is equal to the intervalbetween the adjacent signal line connection lines (the source lineconnection lines, the gate line connection lines). However, the widthdimension of the empty portion formed in the common electrode connectionline portion may differ from the interval between the adjacent signalline connection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate lineconnection lines), that is, the width dimension of the empty portion maybe greater than the interval between the adjacent signal line connectionlines (the source line connection lines, the gate line connection lines)or the width dimension of the empty portion may be smaller than theinterval between the adjacent signal line connection lines (the sourceline connection lines, the gate line connection lines).

(6) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the width dimension of each divided common electrodeconnection line is equal to an interval between the adjacent signal lineconnection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate lineconnection lines). However, the width dimension of each divided commonelectrode connection line may differ from the interval between theadjacent signal line connection lines (the source line connection lines,the gate line connection lines), that is, the width dimension of eachdivided common electrode connection line may be greater than theinterval between the adjacent signal line connection lines (the sourceline connection lines, the gate line connection lines) or the widthdimension of each divided common electrode connection line may besmaller than the interval between the adjacent signal line connectionlines (the source line connection lines, the gate line connectionlines).

(7) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the width dimension of the empty portion formed in thecommon electrode connection line portion, the width dimension of eachdivided common electrode connection line, the width dimension of eachdivided common electrode connection line, and the interval between theadjacent signal line connection lines (the source line connection lines,the gate line connection lines) are 10 μm, respectively. However, thespecific value may be altered if necessary (for example, 3 μm).

(8) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), a ratio of a total area of the empty portions to a totalarea of the common electrode connection line portion is approximately50%. However, the specific value may be altered if necessary. When aratio of a total area of the empty portions between the adjacent signalline connection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate lineconnection lines) to a total area of the signal line connection lines(the source line connection lines, the gate line connection lines) isapproximately 50%, it is preferably to keep the ratio of the total areaof the empty portions to the area of the common electrode connectionline portion to be 18% or more to keep the good appearance of the liquidcrystal display device.

(9) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), a ratio of a total area of the empty portions between theadjacent signal line connection lines (the source line connection lines,the gate line connection lines) to a total area of the signal lineconnection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate lineconnection lines) is approximately 50%. However, the specific value maybe altered if necessary.

(10) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), each of the empty portions formed in the common electrodeconnection line portion has a shape of an elongated slit. However, eachempty portion may have a plan view shape of a quadrangle shape (a squareshape, a rectangular shape), a triangle shape, a circular shape, anellipsoidal shape, a trapezoidal shape, a pentagonal shape, or otherpolygonal shapes. In such a configuration, it is preferable to form theempty portions at intervals along the extending direction in which thesignal line connection lines (the source line connection lines, the gateline connection lines) extend.

(11) In each of the embodiments (except for the third to sixthembodiments), the empty portions formed in the common electrodeconnection line portion may alter in the plan view shape, the number,and the formation area if necessary. For example, the common electrodeconnection line portion of the first embodiment may include the emptyportions having the plan view shape of the second and thirteenthembodiments. The divided common electrode connection lines may alter theplan view shape, the number, and the formation area thereof according tothe alternation of the plan view shape, the number, and the formationarea of the empty portions.

(12) Other than the eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth embodiments, theshort-circuit portions may alter the plan view shape (such as theextending direction), the number, and the formation area if necessary.For example, the short-circuit portions may extend obliquely withrespect to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Among theshort-circuit portions extending in the X-axis direction, theshort-circuit portions extending in the Y-axis direction, and theshort-circuit portions extending obliquely with respect to the X-axisdirection and the Y-axis direction, two or three kinds of short-circuitportions may be formed.

(13) In each of the embodiments, the common electrode connection lineportion includes the sealing empty portions. However, the sealing emptyportions are not necessarily included in the common electrode connectionline portion if the sealing member is made of thermosetting resin thatis cured by heat or if the ultraviolet rays that cure the sealing memberare effectively directed toward the sealing member.

(14) In each of the embodiments, the sealing member is made ofultraviolet curable resin. However, the sealing member may be made ofthermosetting resin that is cured by visible light or made ofthermosetting resin that is cured by heat.

(15) In each of the embodiments, the transfer pad portion of the commonelectrode connection line portion is disposed on a display area sidewith respect to the sealing member overlapping portion. However, thesealing member overlapping portion may be disposed on the display areaside with respect to the transfer pad portion.

(16) In the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenthembodiments), the second empty portions formed in the angled portions ofthe first source-side check lines have a slit shape extending along theangled portions. However, the second empty portions may have a plan viewshape of a quadrangle shape (a square shape, a rectangular shape), atriangle shape, a circular shape, an ellipsoidal shape, a trapezoidalshape, a pentagonal shape, or other polygonal shapes. In such aconfiguration, it is preferable to dispose the empty portions atintervals along the extending direction in which the angled portionsextend.

(17) In the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenthembodiments), the angled portions of the first source-side check linesinclude the second empty portions. However, the first straight portionsor the second straight portions may include the second empty portions.

(18) In the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenthembodiments), the first source-side check lines include the second emptyportions. Further, the second source-side check lines may also includethe second empty portions.

(19) In the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenthembodiments), the first source-side check lines include the second emptyportions. However, the first gate-side check lines or the secondgate-side check lines may include the second empty portions.

(20) In the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenthembodiments), all the first source-side check lines include the secondempty portions. However, a part of the first source-side check lines mayinclude the second empty portions and another part of the firstsource-side check lines may include no first source-side check lines.

(21) Other than the second embodiment (the fourth, sixth, eighth, andtenth embodiments), the plan view arrangement, the tracing paths, theline width, and the arrangement interval may be altered if necessary.

(22) In the third embodiment (the fourth, seventh, and eighthembodiments), the pair of alignment films includes an area that does notoverlap the lines in a plan view. However, only one of the two alignmentfilms may include an area that does not overlap the lines in a plan viewand another one of the two alignment films may include an area thatoverlaps the lines in a plan view similarly to the first and secondembodiments. According to such a configuration, one of the alignmentfilms is not disposed in an area that overlaps the lines in a plan view(the liquid crystals non-orientation portion). Therefore, theorientation of the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquidcrystal layer in the area is less likely to be controlled and light isless likely pass through the area.

(23) In the fifth embodiment (the sixth, ninth, and tenth embodiments),the pair of alignment films includes the orientation non-processedportion that overlaps the lines in a plan view. One of the alignmentfilms may include the orientation non-processed portion that overlapsthe lines and another one of the alignment films may include theorientation processed portion in an entire area thereof similarly to thefirst and second embodiments. According to such a configuration, one ofthe alignment films includes the orientation non-processed portion in anarea that overlaps the lines in a plan view (the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion). Therefore, the orientation of the liquidcrystal molecules included in the area of the liquid crystal layer isless likely to be controlled and light is less likely to pass throughthe area.

(24) In the fifth embodiment (the sixth, ninth, and tenth embodiments),the alignment films have the same plan view formation area of thealignment processed portion and the same plan view formation area of thealignment non-processed area. However, the alignment films may havedifferent plan view formation areas of the alignment processed portionand different plan view formation areas of the alignment non-processedportion.

(25) In each of the embodiments, the rubbing processing is executed asthe orientation processing of the alignment films. However,photo-alignment processing may be executed as the orientationprocessing.

(26) Other than the embodiments, the specific metal material used forthe signal line connection lines (the source line connection lines, thegate line connection lines) and the common electrode connection lineportion may be altered if necessary. For example, the signal lineconnection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate linesconnection) and the common electrode connection line portion may be madeof the same metal as that of the source lines. Further, the signal lineconnection lines (the source line connection lines, the gate linesconnection) are made of metal different from that of the commonelectrode connection line portion.

(27) In each of the embodiments, the TFTs of the pixels (the dummy TFTsof the dummy pixels and the ESD protection portion) include an amorphoussilicon thin film as a semiconductor film. However, the semiconductorfilm made of an oxide semiconductor material (such as In—Ga—Zn—O (oxide)semiconductor material (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxygen)) may be used as thesemiconductor film. Following oxide semiconductor materials may be usedother than the In—Ga-An-O (oxide) semiconductor (Indium Gallium ZincOxygen). Specifically, an oxide containing indium (In), silicon (Si),and zinc (Zn), an oxide containing indium (In), aluminum (Al), and zinc(Zn), an oxide containing tin (Sn), silicon (Si), and zinc (Zn), anoxide containing tin (Sn), aluminum (Al), and zinc (Zn), an oxidecontaining tin (Sn), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), an oxide containinggallium (Ga), silicon (Si), and zinc (Zn), an oxide containing gallium(Ga), aluminum (Al), and zinc (Zn), an oxide containing indium (In),copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), an oxide containing tin (Sn), copper (Cu),and zinc (Zn) may be used. A semiconductor film made of continuous grainsilicon (CG silicon) thin film that is a kind of a polycrystallinesilicone thin film may be used. The CG silicon thin film is formed byadding a metal material to the amorphous silicon thin film and heatingthe amorphous silicon thin film at a low temperature of approximately550° C. for a short time. Accordingly, the atomic arrangement in silicongrain boundary has continuity. The electron mobility in the CG siliconthin film is approximately 200-300 cm2/Vs that is greater than that ofthe amorphous silicon thin film. Therefore, the TFTs are reduced in sizeeasily and the amount of light passing through the pixel electrodes isgreatly increased and this is effective to increase precision anddecrease power consumption. The TFTs including such a semiconductor filmare stagger type (coplanar type) TFTs in which the semiconductor film isdisposed as a lowermost layer and the gate electrode is laminatedthereon having an insulation film therebetween.

(28) The array board includes the ESD protection portions and the dummypixels in each of the above embodiments. However, the array board maynot include one of the ESD protection portions and the dummy pixels.

(29) Other than the above embodiments, the number of drivers may bealtered and the gate-side drivers may not be provided.

(30) The driver is mounted directly on the array board by the COG methodin the above embodiments. However, the driver mounted on the flexibleprinted circuit board connected to the array board through ACF may beincluded in the scope of the present invention.

(31) The liquid crystal panel 11 is the TN type in each of theembodiments. However, the present invention is applied to the liquidcrystal panel of a VA type, a MVA type, an IPS type, or a FFS type.

(32) In each of the embodiments, the liquid crystal display deviceinclude the touch panel, the liquid crystal panel, and the backlightunit that are collectively arranged in the casing. However, a chassiswhere components of the backlight unit are arranged may be additionallyprovided. In such a case, the LED boards may not be attached to theliquid crystal panel but may be arranged in the chassis.

(33) The backlight device in the liquid crystal display device is theedge-light type in the above embodiments. However, a liquid crystaldisplay device including a direct backlight device may be included inthe scope of the present invention.

(34) The LEDs are used as the light source of the backlight device inthe above embodiments. However, other light source (such as organic ELs)may be used.

(35) Each of the above embodiments includes the transmissive type liquidcrystal display device including the backlight device as an externallight source. However, a semi-transmissive type liquid crystal displaydevice (a reflective and transmissive type) configured to display imagesusing light from the backlight device (transmissive type display) andconfigured to display images using external light (reflective typedisplay) may be included in the scope of the present invention.

(36) Each of the above embodiments includes the TFTs as switchingcomponents of the liquid crystal display device. However, switchingcomponents other than the TFTs (such as thin film diodes (TFDs)) may beincluded in the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a liquidcrystal display device configured to display black and white imagesother than the liquid crystal display device configured to display colorimages.

(37) The touch panel is disposed on a front side with respect to theliquid crystal panel in each of the embodiments. However, the touchpanel may not be included if a touch panel pattern is formed on the CFboard included in the liquid crystal panel. The touch panel may besimply omitted without forming the touch panel pattern on the liquidcrystal panel.

(38) The parallax barrier panel is disposed between the liquid crystalpanel and the backlight unit in the fifteenth embodiment. However, theparallax barrier panel may be disposed between the liquid crystal paneland the touch panel. Further, the parallax barrier panel may be disposedoutside the touch panel so that the touch panel is sandwiched betweenthe parallax barrier panel and the liquid crystal panel.

(39) The parallax barrier panel has a multi-view (dual view) function inthe fifteenth embodiment. A parallax barrier panel that enables a viewerto see three-dimensional images may be used.

(40) The above embodiments include the liquid crystal display devicesused for in-vehicle terminals. The present invention may be applied toliquid crystal display devices used for mobile phones (including smartphones), laptop computers (including tablet type computers), digitalphoto frames, and portable video games.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, 911, 1411: Liquid crystalpanel (a display device), 11 a, 111 a, 211 a, 311 a, 411 a, 511 a, 611a, 722 a, 811 a, 911 a: CF board (a board), 11 b, 111 b, 211 b, 311 b,411 b, 511 b, 611 b, 711 b, 811 b, 911 b: Array board (a board), 11 c,211 c, 311 c, 411 c, 511 c, 611 c, 711 c, 811 c, 911 c: Liquid crystallayer, 11 d, 211 d, 311 d, 411 d, 511 d, 611 d, 711 d, 811 d, 911 d:Alignment film, 11 e, 211 e, 311 e, 411 e, 511 e, 611 e, 711 e, 811 e,911 e: Alignment film, 11 i, 111 i, 211 i, 611 i: Light blocking layer(a light blocking portion), 11 j, 411 j, 511 j, 611 j, 711 j, 811 j, 911j: Common electrode, 11 k, 211 k, 311 k. 4111 k, 511 k, 611 k, 711 k,811 k, 911 k: Sealing member, 18: Pixel electrode, 21, 121: Driver(signal processor), 29, 129, 229, 329: Signal line connection lines (anarrow line portion, a line portion), 30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630,730, 830, 930, 1030, 1130, 1230, 1330: Common electrode connection lineportion (a wide line portion), 31, 131, 231, 331: Dummy pixels (a secondlight blocking portion), 32, 132, 232, 332, 432: ESD protection portion(a second light blocking portion), 34, 134, 234, 334, 634, 734, 834,934, 1034, 1134, 1234, 1334: Empty portion, 35, 1035, 1135, 1235, 1335:Divided common electrode connection line (a divided line), 36: Alignmentfilm overlap portion, 37, 637, 737: Alignment film non-overlap portion,38, 238, 338: Sealing member overlap portion, 39: Sealing non-overlapportion, 40, 240: Sealing empty portion, 42, 342: Check line (a narrowline portion, a wide line portion, a line portion, a check lineportion), 43: Second empty portion (an empty portion), 47, 447, 547,647, 747, 847, 947: Liquid crystal orientation portion, 48, 448, 548,648, 748, 848, 948: Liquid crystal non-orientation portion, 49, 1149,1349: Short-circuit portion, AA: Display area, AFA: Alignment filmarrangement area, AFNA: Alignment film non-arrangement area, AP:Orientation-processed portion, ANP: Orientation non-processed portion,NAA: Non-display area

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display areawhere images are displayed; a non-display area that is outside thedisplay area; a signal processor in the non-display area that drives thedisplay area to generate the images; a light blocking portion disposedin at least the non-display area to block light; a narrow line portionin a substantially triangular shape disposed in the non-display areabetween the signal processor and the display area and including narrowlines that spread outwardly with increasing distance from the signalprocessor, are arranged at intervals, and do not cross one another; anda wide line portion disposed in a substantially triangular-island shapein the non-display area between the signal processor, the display area,and the narrow line portion, and having a width greater than that of thenarrow line portion and including empty portions; wherein the narrowline portion includes empty parts between directly adjacent ones of thenarrow lines that do not cross one another, and a ratio of an area ofthe empty portions to an area of the wide line portion is substantiallyequal to a ratio of an area of the empty parts to an area of the narrowline portion; and the narrow lines within the narrow line portion arenot electrically connected to each other.
 2. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the wide line portion includes dividedlines that are defined by the empty portions and are arranged atintervals.
 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein in thewide line portion, each of the divided lines has a line width that isequal to that of each of the narrow lines and adjacent divided lineshave an interval therebetween that is equal to an interval betweenadjacent narrow lines.
 4. The display device according to claim 2,wherein the wide line portion further includes short-circuit portionsconfigured to short-circuit adjacent divided lines.
 5. The displaydevice according to claim 1, further comprising: boards each includingthe display area and the non-display area; a liquid crystal layersandwiched between the boards; alignment films disposed on platesurfaces of the respective boards opposite the liquid crystal layer,disposed over the display area and the non-display area, and configuredto orient liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer,wherein the narrow line portion includes a portion that overlaps thealignment films in a plan view, the wide line portion includes analignment film overlap portion overlapping the alignment films and analignment film non-overlap portion that does not overlap the alignmentfilms, and the empty portions are formed at least in the alignmentnon-overlap portion.
 6. The display device according to claim 5, furthercomprising a sealing member disposed between the boards to surround andseal the liquid crystal layer, wherein the sealing member is made ofthermosetting resin, the alignment film non-overlap portion includes asealing member overlap portion overlapping the sealing member in a planview and a sealing member non-overlap portion that does not overlap thesealing member in a plan view, and the sealing member overlap portionincludes sealing empty portions through which light passes to cure thesealing member.
 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein thenarrow line portion, the wide line portion, and at least pixelelectrodes are disposed on a plate surface of one of the boards oppositethe liquid crystal layer, the light blocking portion and a commonelectrode that is opposite at least the pixel electrode are disposed ona plate surface of another one of the boards opposite the liquid crystallayer, and the sealing member non-overlap portion is electricallyconnected to the common electrode in the wide line portion.
 8. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is aplurality of signal processors arranged at intervals and processinginput signals supplied from an external signal supplier and generateoutput signals and output the output signals to the display area, thenarrow line portion extends over the signal processors and the displayarea to transmit the output signals to the display area and routed tospread from the respective signal processors toward the display area,and the wide line portion is sandwiched between the narrow lines thatare routed from the respective signal processors that are adjacent toeach other.
 9. The display device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: boards each including the display area and the non-displayarea; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the boards; andalignment films disposed on plate surfaces of the respective boardsopposite the liquid crystal layer, disposed over the display area andthe non-display area, and configured to orient liquid crystal moleculesincluded in the liquid crystal layer, wherein one of the boards includesa liquid crystals non-orientation portion that overlaps the narrow lineportion and the wide line portion in the non-display area in a plan viewand the liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layerare not oriented.
 10. A display device comprising: boards each includinga display area where images are displayed and a non-display area that isoutside the display area; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between theboards; liquid crystals orientation portions disposed in the displayarea of plate surfaces of the boards opposite the liquid crystal layerand configured to orient liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystallayer; a light blocking portion disposed at least in the non-displayarea of one of the boards; lines arranged at intervals in thenon-display area of one of the boards; a liquid crystals non-orientationportion that overlaps at least the lines in a plan view in thenon-display area of one of the boards and does not orient the liquidcrystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer; and alignmentfilms disposed on plate surfaces of the boards opposite the liquidcrystal layer and in at least the display area; wherein the alignmentfilms include portions disposed in the display area and the portionscorrespond to an orientation processed portion that is subjected toorientation processing, one of the alignment films includes anorientation non-processed portion in the non-display area, theorientation non-processed portion overlapping at least the lines in aplan view, and the orientation non-processed portion is not subjected tothe orientation processing; and the liquid crystals orientation portioncorresponds to the orientation processed portion and the liquid crystalsnon-orientation portion corresponds to the orientation non-processedportion.
 11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein theliquid crystals orientation portion corresponds to portions of therespective alignment films in the display area, one of the boardsincludes an alignment film non-arrangement area on a plate surfacethereof opposite the liquid crystal layer, one of the alignment films isdisposed not to overlap the lines in a plan view in the alignment filmnon-arrangement area, and the liquid crystals non-orientation portioncorresponds to the alignment film non-arrangement area.
 12. The displaydevice according to claim 11, wherein the alignment films extend overthe display area and the non-display area, the display device furthercomprising: a second light blocking portion configured to block lightand disposed in the non-display area of one of the boards andoverlapping the alignment films in a plan view and disposed on a displayarea side with respect to the lines.
 13. The display device according toclaim 11, wherein the alignment films have a same formation area in aplan view of the boards, and the liquid crystals non-orientation portionis included in each of the boards.